HOSPITAL BOARD DISCUSSES EMERGENCY ROOM WOES (SHELBYVILLE, TN)

The Shelbyville Times-Gazette ^ | 17 March 2004 | Ann Bullard

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Months before criticism of the Bedford County Medical Center Emergency Department hit the newspaper, hospital administration, E-R head nurse Mary Jim Thompson, other nurses and physicians began developing a plan to help alleviate the problem. Thompson referred to the steady growth in emergency services demand, growing from 11,211 persons triaged in 2002 to 11,780 last year.

She expressed concern with the amount of time from a patient first being seen to their release, more than an hour's time, and the high percentage of patients who left without being seen. Their challenge: do so with little capital outlay or adding to the hospital's financial woes. A proposal to fast-track non-critical patients presented to hospital trustees at their monthly committee meetings on Monday night met with unanimous approval. Even though the finance committee was the only one to “vote,” everyone agreed the resolution needed full board consideration.

If approved, some offices and walls would be moved and the present waiting area combined with the admitting waiting room to make room for three lounge chairs in a curtained-off area. Patients not needing a full work-up could be seen by a mid-level practitioner. In many cases, patients could be seen more quickly than at present and given discharge instructions in the fast-track area.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Called my local hospital here in Texas today about a billing matter and mentioned to the lady on the phone that illegal aliens are bankrupting the healthcare system. She agreed and said something to the effect that something has to be done. She said they're using the emergency room as they can not be turned away and are not paying their share of the bills.

It appears this practice has run by word of mouth throughout the illegal alien communities nationwide and they are making the cost of healthcare skyrocket everywhere by running to the emergency room for minor ailments. Bedford County, TN has a SIGNIFICANT illegal alien population and the story fails to mention that this is probably a huge percentage of the problem the hospital is having there. When? When is the media going to do a full story on all of this? When? They're ruining our healthcare system because some payment is not demanded up front. Would someone please listen? We can't pay any more.

[Born Conservative]

Mary Jim?

[DoughtyOne]

Yep, those that laughed at the border states are now beginning to get the big picture. We said this had to stop. Nobody listened. Perhaps Tennessee has a louder voice.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Who? What are you asking?

[Oblongata]

And yes, for all who are wondering, this is the Shelbyville from the Simpson's. The arch-rivals of all who dwell in springfield.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

It is happening all over the place. The media knows it and is not reporting ANYTHING. Illegal aliens are THE REASON healthcare costs are going through the roof. They're obtaining medical care across a broad spectrum for which they are not paying. The costs are being spread out among all of the rest of us. It will bankrupt the healthcare system. Premiums are rising at an incredible rate.

A nationwide system MUST be put in place that says you put down a deposit of some kind at least or you do NOT get medical care. The multi-thousand lifeflights of illegal aliens simply must stop. I know it seems cruel, but it is going to bankrupt the rest of us. In Mexico, you pay or you lay. It is that simple. What ambulance service the small towns have is provided by untrained Red Cross volunteers.

[au eagle]

It's not just illegals. It's folks who decide after having a headache for 3 days that they just can't take it anymore at 2:00 am. Or baby has been throwing up for 2 days and at 1:00 am, mama decides it time to see a doc. Or it's someone who thinks they can see a doc quicker in an ER versus the doc's office. This has been going on for years and years and has contributed to the closing of ERs all over the country. Just not very cost effective. Illegals have compounded the problem, but it ain't all their fault.

[hummingbird]

And yes, for all who are wondering, this is the Shelbyville from the Simpson's. The arch-rivals of all who dwell in springfield.

Those Shelbyville juvenile delinquents stealing the lemon tree was the final straw!

[Fishing-guy]

Let's not forget the huge number of uninsured Americans and those on Medicaid who cannot find a private physician who will accept them.

Further, there is a dearth of outpatient clinics to see all these patients.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Those Shelbyville juvenile delinquents stealing the lemon tree was the final straw!

I could, uh..er, see how Shelbyville, TN could be associated with the Simpsons. Yes, I could see it...