[baltodog]

What to do? What to do?
The medical industry is the most corrupt industry there is, IMHO.
While I believe that the doctors, nurses, and staff all have the most noblest of intentions, it's their bosses -- the administrators and insurance companies, that are running health care down the tubes.
My health insurance increased by $11/week this year, and I do not have a choice of whether to pay or not. I'm paying over $200/month for less cvg than I had last year. Noboby competed for my business.
I think that we should survey the staff of the hospitals and find out what their opinions are.

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[NonValueAdded]

I'm a little confused here. The article talks about all the nonurgent patients clogging up the works but they somehow do this by requiring inpatient beds that aren't available. I'm under the impression that if you require an in-patient stay at the hospital that is kinda urgent. Nonurgent would be outpatient types served via the "treat 'em and street 'em" process, no?

We have a new hospital with a separate ER for outpatient type complaints leaving the main ER to handle the true emergencies. After all, people do get sick on the weekends. Ever try to get a doctor who is in your plan on a weekend? THEY are the ones who tell you to go to the ER.

[spectre]

I read on this forum that the ER cost/treatment of illegal aliens in southern California is literally bankrupting them major hospitals in Los Angeles.

Our medical facilities here in Little Rock are starting to take financial hits for this same problem.

If this problem can't even be honestly addressed, how in the hell can you even begin to discuss ER costs?