Annals of Emergency Medicine: “The authors conclude, ‘increase in ED use may be attributable to lack of ready access to primary care and other structural problems in the health care system.’”
Bingo.
Why EDs are overcrowded
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Ultimately, it is because primary care physicians / practitioners don’t want to work the hours that they are needed. The majority of people are not able to get to a physician from 9 to 5 because they are working - and taking time off when sick is sometimes not feasible. This only leaves the ED.
I am no longer a primary care doc. However, I wouldn’t mind working in the evenings seeing pts in my sleep clinic. The problem is, my secretarial/administrative staff wants to work standard hours, and I would have to pay a higher hourly salary to get someone to work in the evening. Insurance isn’t going to pay any more $ if I see someone at 8 pm vs 8 am. It would decrease my income to offer later hours. I think that is why most docs keep standard 9 to 5 hours.