General Discussion

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

47. Have you actually been in an emergency room?

Mon Apr 29, 2013, 11:42 AM

Apr 2013

They take the serious cases first.

I once went in after a fall. I was bleeding and had a finger completely bent out of shape. Also broken bones. The pain was terrible. Do you know how many hours I had to wait?

My visit wasn't frivolous.

Anyone who likes emergency rooms enough to hang around in them should simply become an EMT or a nurse.

They aren't fun places.

They rush anyone with symptoms of heart failure in as fast as they can.

For the rest, a nurse administers cold packs and aspirin to take away the pain.

Fractures and blood as long as it isn't an aorta can wait.

Maybe in small, mid-western towns where gang shootings and bar brawls are rare, people can visit the emergency room just for something different to do on Saturday night, but in the big cities in the US, the one place you do not want to spend your time is in the emergency room.

Worry about something real like global warming, not "frivolous" visits to the local emergency room. This is just an excuse to worry.

On second thought, parents take children to the emergency room because children cannot always describe their physical problems. It is very hard to judge whether a child has a serious problem or not. Cut some slack on that one. Assuming a child is OK can be deadly.

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I'm looking for evidence that socialized medicine does not increase "frivolous" visits. [View all] Gravitycollapse Apr 2013 OP

Why are you trying to prove a negative? They make a claim, they should prove it does. idwiyo Apr 2013 #1

First of all, the uninsured already go to the ER for non-emergency care. alarimer Apr 2013 #2

I think it is something so obvious no study is needed. MindPilot Apr 2013 #3

Yep. And I speak out of experience having lived 16 years in the Netherlands BlueCaliDem Apr 2013 #52

In 1996, my husband had an emergency root canal in Groningen eridani Apr 2013 #60

Very hard to study, given that people's medical records are private, hughee99 Apr 2013 #4

If anything, I hear just the opposite. That people are more likely to NOT go to the ER CTyankee Apr 2013 #5

This +1 JustAnotherGen Apr 2013 #53

Maybe they are watching the British comedy "Doc Martin" grasswire Apr 2013 #6

Do you like going to the doctor? LeftInTX Apr 2013 #7

WHEN these boys timdog44 Apr 2013 #14

"They aren't going to "treat" someone if nothing is the matter with them. " former9thward Apr 2013 #16

Yep, absolutely LeftInTX Apr 2013 #18

Get a doctor to say that. former9thward Apr 2013 #26

That's because of the fee for service system we have now Hippo_Tron Apr 2013 #51

Fee for service and fears of malpractice suits. former9thward Apr 2013 #55

They certainly do--just not very many of them. And why not? eridani Apr 2013 #62

Not really. former9thward Apr 2013 #63

National health care is exactly what will eliminate lawsuits related to malpractice eridani May 2013 #65

Do you seriously think there are no mistakes made in national health care? former9thward May 2013 #66

Didn't say that--I said that mistakes under national health care never cost the patient more money eridani May 2013 #67

A huge part of malpractice suits is "pain and suffering". former9thward May 2013 #69

This is just a bullshit excuse to get the money they will need for (often) a lifetime of extra care eridani May 2013 #86

Some people do like to go to the doctor. Maybe for attention. Seriously, I have two relatives who raccoon May 2013 #81

Here's a dissertation that might help magellan Apr 2013 #8

Anyone who's ever had to sit in an ER should be able to figure that one out. n/t winter is coming Apr 2013 #13

Of course. But the request was for a study of some kind. magellan Apr 2013 #15

Thank you! It's not the exact answer but it's good enough. Gravitycollapse May 2013 #73

You're welcome magellan May 2013 #85

Thank you for your concern. Single payer is not "socialized medicine". kestrel91316 Apr 2013 #9

First of all you need socialized medicine, not the jury-rigged system in place rustydog Apr 2013 #10

For a toothache see the dentist quitnesset Apr 2013 #11

Define 'frivolous' htuttle Apr 2013 #12

Where's all the frivolous use of the fire department? ret5hd Apr 2013 #17

+1 leftstreet Apr 2013 #34

Obviously your "friends" haven't been to the emergency room curlyred Apr 2013 #19

Far lower costs, superior outcomes. Warren Stupidity Apr 2013 #20

Maybe not exactly what you're looking for, but the Time article on Health Care was thorough Warren DeMontague Apr 2013 #21

That argument is a red herring to begin with... Locut0s Apr 2013 #22

A big problem is that many people in this country are covered by company health plans. bluestate10 Apr 2013 #24

since universal coverage is about 30% cheaper, i wonder what 'true' costs you're talking about? HiPointDem Apr 2013 #40

And it's getting to where fewer and fewer people have that. I wonder when we'll hit the tipping raccoon May 2013 #82

The fact that "socialized" medicine countries have lower patient expenses than we do bluestate10 Apr 2013 #23

The current scheme is the ultimate in frivolous care. mick063 Apr 2013 #25

I Agree With You That It's a Relevant Question On the Road Apr 2013 #27

How do you define "frivolous"? JDPriestly Apr 2013 #36

I think what is meant by frivolous OwnedByCats Apr 2013 #43

Have you actually been in an emergency room? JDPriestly Apr 2013 #47

Yeah I have been there many times OwnedByCats Apr 2013 #56

Yes. I prefer single payer. The British system is great. JDPriestly Apr 2013 #57

Yep OwnedByCats Apr 2013 #58

It's code talk. "Frivolous" is when people who are not white like them seek medical care. hunter Apr 2013 #28

Exactly. "Those" people will be in the waiting room. Warren Stupidity Apr 2013 #42

+1 gollygee Apr 2013 #54

is arizona considering "socialized medicine" ? arely staircase Apr 2013 #29

Toothaches can kill you. Tell them that. truebluegreen Apr 2013 #30

Ask the British. moondust Apr 2013 #31

A tooth that has abcessed is not frivolous nobodyspecial Apr 2013 #32

You better believe an infected abscessed tooth is a good OwnedByCats Apr 2013 #39

Negative Proof kenichol Apr 2013 #33

That might be kind of hard to find. When people have insurance they do go to the Dr more MellowYellow Apr 2013 #35

There are no frivolous visits. sibelian Apr 2013 #37

Ok, I lived in the UK for 10 years OwnedByCats Apr 2013 #38

such research exists, because i remember reading it, though i can't remember the details. HiPointDem Apr 2013 #41

Define "frivolous". baldguy Apr 2013 #44

Exactly. laundry_queen Apr 2013 #45

Not evidence, but personal anecdotes WilmywoodNCparalegal Apr 2013 #46

Kick. n/t area51 Apr 2013 #48

I remember seeing a chart on the old DU Sheepshank Apr 2013 #49

ok here is the link. Sheepshank Apr 2013 #50

If our system is so great at keeping costs down, why do we pay TWICE per capita eridani Apr 2013 #59

Here's a pretty good blog about health care. DanTex Apr 2013 #61

Clever variation on the usual "HELP ME REFUTE THIS" TROLLING. WinkyDink Apr 2013 #64

Yeah, no trolling. Just looking for information. Gravitycollapse May 2013 #71

Wth counts as "frivolous"? If you have a doctor, you don't go to the ER Hekate May 2013 #68

Well, for one thing, wingnuts are stupid. Gravitycollapse May 2013 #72

I've gone to the ER for a toothache... cynatnite May 2013 #70

Given the constant whining about overtreatment, it's hard for me to make sense of that claim. bemildred May 2013 #74

I've gone to the ER with a 'toothache' REP May 2013 #75

Doctors' offices are full of germs--most people try to avoid them emsimon33 May 2013 #76

You think a doctor's office is full of germs? Hospitals are gigantic petri dishes. Gravitycollapse May 2013 #77

That, too. emsimon33 May 2013 #80

The insurance industry are still flinging this poo? Cleita May 2013 #78

The argument is either ludicrous or irrelevant, depending... Demo_Chris May 2013 #79

Me thinks there is racism and/or Fox News behind this thinking LeftInTX May 2013 #83

my friend has health insurance and pays DesertFlower May 2013 #84

I can only give you my own personal experience... Violet_Crumble May 2013 #87