"Go to the hospitals in the wealthiest neighborhoods."

[Skidmore]

CSPAN caller said he's discovered that when he needs medical care, if he goes to the ER of hospital in wealthy neighborhoods, he can get prompt care, with no waiting lines. Perhaps spreading the pain out to other hospitals than low income neighborhood hospitals would be one way to kick the can down the road a bit in terms of getting reasonable healthcare. Just like private schools, they can pick and chose who they will provide an essential service to. Maybe forcing some equity out of the system can translate into systemiting equity.

Any thoughts?

[XNASA]

1. Depends on your affliction, malady or trauma I suppose.

[dysfunctional press]

2. people generally go to the hospital that's closest-

and in poor neighborhoods- people are less likely to have insurance- so the emergency room become's their family doctor. these people often don't have the means of transportation to get to the wealthy neighborhood hospital- where, because most people in the area are more likely to have health insurance- and therefore a primary care physician, they don't use the ER except in actual emergencies.

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. I don't know about the rest of the country, but here in Michigan, the

wealthier hospitals (read...Bon Secours) transfer patients who can't pay up out to the low income hospitals...even for prompt care. Nice thought though. They have a dozen reasons why they do this and there are loopholes that make it easy for them to do so.

[havocmom]

7. Yep, and some flat out send ambulances away; critical patients touring

around in town with EMTs trying to find an ER that will open its doors.

see my post below

[Viva_La_Revolution]

10. Wow! check out my post below...

We lived in Chandler, they sent me to Phoenix.

[xchrom]

14. try to find an ambulance ride that insurance will pay for

among other problems.

my father fell and broke his hip a few years ago -- neither medicare nor his insurance would pay for that -- mind you he was 100% incapacitated -- but medicare deemed it wasn't serious enough.

a ride in that ambulance -- their house is no farther than 5 mins from the hospital -- cost over two thousand.

needless to say -- we don't call the ambulance for anything now.

[havocmom]

4. Be interesting to track how many ambulances get sent to those

as opposed to hospitals in poorer 'hoods. I know ERs in some areas are turning away ambulances and it is affecting people's health when the drivers have to go all over a city to find someplace to take a critical case.

Wonder if there is any data out there on which hospitals are turning them away. I know of one in a nicer part of Tucson that turns them away pretty often.

[Patiod]

5. Well, if I get shot by Cheney, I'm going to Temple!

Temple University hospital in North Philadelphia deals with more gunshot wounds every year than any other hospital in the city!

[havocmom]

9. After several hours waiting, you would

x(

[harlinchi]

12. Closely followed by Einstein, I'd guess! n/t

[Fridays Child]

6. It might be a good idea.

I don't think any ER can turn away someone in need of immediate treatment and, in fact, the care may be better at well-equipped suburban hospitals than at urban ones.

[havocmom]

13. The loophole is if they say they are too busy or overwhelmed

So they just cut ER staff and POOF! They are ALWAYS too busy so they can pick and choose.

There have been cases of critical auto accident victims, bleeding severly, turned away from SEVERAL closer ERs. EMTs sometimes are on the radio with 4 or 5 ERs before they find one that will take their patient.

They are supposed to take all comers. But the practice is a bit different.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

8. If it's really an emergency, it will work...

If you are going to ER because of no insurance, for something non-life threatening, they will send you to another hospital.

Get this. 17 years ago in AZ, I passed out from blood loss during a miscarrage. Hubby called the ambulance, they stopped at the hospital down the road, a doctor ruled I would be ok long enough to take me to the public hospital 45 minutes away. The paramedics were pissed, it was a rough 45 minutes, they said I passed out twice.

[bleedingheart]

11. In the end...someone has to pay for care

public hospitals must take everyone regardless of insurance...but private hospitals could refuse treatment.

He is just lucky to have found a public hospital in an area with not much demand....however if he has no insurance...it is still a problem.

[flordehinojos]

15. he must have good insurance coverage.

i doubt they would even look at him if he were to walk in the ER without a good INSURANCE card.