Comments on: Why more emergency departments are shutting down and becoming urgent care centers http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/why-more-emergency-departments-are.html medical blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:50:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Happy World Health Day! | Human Rights Now - Amnesty International USA Blog http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/why-more-emergency-departments-are.html/comment-page-1#comment-109684 Happy World Health Day! | Human Rights Now - Amnesty International USA Blog Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:04:22 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/why-more-emergency-departments-are-shutting-down-and-becoming-urgent-care-centers.html#comment-109684 [...] in the United States, particular hospitals are vulnerable to disasters like Hurricane Ike — and our health care system as a whole is facing a slow-motion emergency. The figure you [...] [...] in the United States, particular hospitals are vulnerable to disasters like Hurricane Ike — and our health care system as a whole is facing a slow-motion emergency. The figure you [...]

]]> By: Bad Medicine, Good Solutions http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/why-more-emergency-departments-are.html/comment-page-1#comment-90735 Bad Medicine, Good Solutions Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:43:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/why-more-emergency-departments-are-shutting-down-and-becoming-urgent-care-centers.html#comment-90735 This all comes back to government meddling. EMTALA needs to go. Draconian rules about balance billing for medicare and insurance contracts the prohibit giving discounted fees to cash paying customers needs to end, too. And sadly what will people demand for a solution? An expansion of the entitity that put us here in the first place. This all comes back to government meddling. EMTALA needs to go. Draconian rules about balance billing for medicare and insurance contracts the prohibit giving discounted fees to cash paying customers needs to end, too. And sadly what will people demand for a solution? An expansion of the entitity that put us here in the first place.

]]> By: David http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/why-more-emergency-departments-are.html/comment-page-1#comment-90733 David Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:25:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/why-more-emergency-departments-are-shutting-down-and-becoming-urgent-care-centers.html#comment-90733 I love that some professionals viewed the move with "disgust" and that some patients were angry about it. Both of these reactions stem from the idea that the business side of medicine should never play a part in decision-making. In addition, there is the sense, on the part of patients, that the world somehow 'owes' it to them to have an emergency room, no matter how poorly it is doing financially.<br/><br/>Both physicians (and I am one) and patients must learn that medicine is a business, albeit one that is severely hampered by our current rules and financing system. The sooner we realize that capitalism cannot solve the problem when it is not allowed to exist, the sooner we can try to remove barriers to care and allow people to solve problems AND make a profit.<br/><br/>Trying to achieve quality, affordable, and compassionate care by any other means (including government supplied health care) is simply a pipe dream. <br/><br/>(BTW, I noticed that one of the comments was that perhaps anyone can call themselves an urgent care center - even if they are a full-scale ER. I wonder if this would be the appropriate move for other ERs.) I love that some professionals viewed the move with “disgust” and that some patients were angry about it. Both of these reactions stem from the idea that the business side of medicine should never play a part in decision-making. In addition, there is the sense, on the part of patients, that the world somehow ‘owes’ it to them to have an emergency room, no matter how poorly it is doing financially.

Both physicians (and I am one) and patients must learn that medicine is a business, albeit one that is severely hampered by our current rules and financing system. The sooner we realize that capitalism cannot solve the problem when it is not allowed to exist, the sooner we can try to remove barriers to care and allow people to solve problems AND make a profit.

Trying to achieve quality, affordable, and compassionate care by any other means (including government supplied health care) is simply a pipe dream.

(BTW, I noticed that one of the comments was that perhaps anyone can call themselves an urgent care center – even if they are a full-scale ER. I wonder if this would be the appropriate move for other ERs.)

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/why-more-emergency-departments-are.html/comment-page-1#comment-90729 Anonymous Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:10:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/why-more-emergency-departments-are-shutting-down-and-becoming-urgent-care-centers.html#comment-90729 Kevin, didn't you blog yesterday that er's shouldn't be doing this because cutting down er's is poor quality care.<br/><br/>Chicago I believe.<br/><br/>Are you trying to present both sides? Kevin, didn’t you blog yesterday that er’s shouldn’t be doing this because cutting down er’s is poor quality care.

Chicago I believe.

Are you trying to present both sides?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/why-more-emergency-departments-are.html/comment-page-1#comment-90726 Anonymous Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:09:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/why-more-emergency-departments-are-shutting-down-and-becoming-urgent-care-centers.html#comment-90726 If physician reimbursements are cut any further, then no will be in the ER to service those patients anyway. If physician reimbursements are cut any further, then no will be in the ER to service those patients anyway.

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