Quote:
Originally Posted by mikesouth
When I spoke with my Canadian friends, one of whom works in IT in Canadian hospitals I got a story that sounded very similar. He said one of the ongoing problems in Canada was people going to emergency rooms for problems that aren't emergencies. They do it there because it's convenient. We have the same problem here but for a different reason. Despite what Michael Moore would have you believe you cannot be turned away from a public hospital here in America, only a private one. Lot's o people know this and take advantage of it knowing they will never have to pay, so when little Leroy gets the croup, mom takes him to the emergency room of the nearest public hospital where he gets treated for free for a non emergency.
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One proposal I came up with years ago was for a small user fee for non-emergency visits to the ER. Still gives people the service, but for say a $10 fee if their situation is deemed non-emergency. If they don't want to pay the fee they can go to their regular doctor or a walk-in clinic. That's what they're there for.
It would serve to curtail ER abuse, and would also bring extra revenue into the system.
Better that than going to a 2-tier system like some idiots are spouting in favor of.