This is not really news. And it's not "THE" problem with our healthcare system but ranks way on up there amongst the other thousands of crap things the government has done to interfere with the practitioner looking into the eyes of the patient and saying; "this is what we need to do".

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Posted by Reubaltaich

A nation under duress

Member since Jun 2006

4964 posts

Posted on 7/24/14 at 6:52 pm to CMPunkBITW

I've read that most ERs are huge losers for hospitals.

I think the default rate is well over 50% which is one of the reasons a ER visit is so high. The hospitals are trying to recoup the losses in higher prices.

Many hospitals, especially near the US/Mexican border have completely shut down their ERs. They are being flooded with illegals who won't and can't pay for services rendered.

I doubt it will happen anytime soon but I would like to see Congress revamp the law about ERs(can't remember the name of it) which would allows ER personelle more leeway about who they can turn away and shield these ERs from potential lawsuits.

Pipe dream I know, but I think that would cut out a lot of the abuse that the non-payers and lazy idiots inflict on a very necessary & vitalpart of our medical delivery system.

This post was edited on 7/24/14 at 6:55 pm

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Posted by Diamondawg

Mississippi

Member since Oct 2006

32225 posts

Posted on 7/24/14 at 7:06 pm to Reubaltaich

quote:
I've read that most ERs are huge losers for hospitals.

As a cost center, I would think that is true. Been retired a few years so don't see the reports anymore but back in the day, hospitals depended on their ED for 40% + of their inpatient admissions. It was probably 60% + for their cardiac admissions. If you looked at the cost center you would shut it down. Look at the overall contribution margin; it's a honey hole. But yes - the non payers and the "cough due to cold" is a constant drain on hospitals.

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