80 people went to Dallas emergency rooms 5,139 times in a year

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

1 hour ago, TwiceHorn said:

To a certain extent, I think this is where the "health care is a right" thinking comes from. 

Nah, if you'll do it it for that you'll pretty much do it for anything.  Dishonesty is dishonesty, it's usually not picky.

Edited June 1, 2019 by Onboard 2.0

[Okie State 3848]

I also think some people actually believe it's really free if they don't pay. There's a whole group of morons who believe that large companies just absorb losses rather than pass them on to the consumer. Of course some people do understand that and just don't care.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13528]

I think some don’t care or they don’t have the mental capacity to understand that something they are receiving for free is being paid by others.  

If someone really is going to the ER practically everyday, then they are sick.  Either addicted to drugs or they have some type of mental illness. Attempting to punish them or regulate their behavior will cost more than examining them.

the real problems are the guy in the story who appears to honesty not realize that the ER is the wrong place to go for every sneeze or sniffle.  This is where we need public health workers to educate people on how best to receive care or when to not seek care. Money well spent.  We spend way too little on public health so instead it costs us more in the long run. 

[TwiceHorn 31587]

At some level, no one can pay.  And actually, probably shouldn't pay (really, get the service).

[Bevo 13602]

38 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

If someone really is going to the ER practically everyday, then they are sick.  Either addicted to drugs or they have some type of mental illness. Attempting to punish them or regulate their behavior will cost more than examining them.

 

Not true. Here are some of the most common scenarios: If someone comes in passed out drunk an MRI is required to rule out head injury. If someone with diabetes doesn't maintain their diet, they will end up in the ER and life saving measures will be necessary. This stuff doesn't come cheaply and others have to pick up the tab.

[T’Boo Ted Marshall 2740]

In the case of the older vets, I wonder if they are unaware of options outside the ER.
Pop was a Col in the AF and our first stop for any issue was the ER. I didn’t have to go often and don’t recall many life threatening issues. That was their filter and follow up appointments were set with a Dr there.

[ABSR 5325]

On 5/29/2019 at 7:55 AM, RollLeft said:

We should build a wall...

Around the ER’s

[Reagan1k 3024]

Compassion comes with unintended consequences; especially  at a societal level.  

The act of enabling is probably the most prevalent of these consequences whether on a personal or macro level.

By and large we no longer have the ability or stomach to say no or add qualifiers when it comes to social programs, regardless of how well intentioned they might be. 

Change will be.painful and seen as cruel by many but something has to be done.

I know...Water is wet. 

[Homercles 10206]

I also think some people actually believe it's really free if they don't pay. There's a whole group of morons who believe that large companies just absorb losses rather than pass them on to the consumer. Of course some people do understand that and just don't care.

[Bama Chick 28596]

Don’t have to worry about this lady lol.

[BigHorn'13 3387]

This is ridiculous but some of the blame needs to go to PCPs/GPs. You know how much it is for a doctor's visit for someone without issuance? In my area? $150 without any labs or extra shit. Why all the outrage over how expensive hospital visits are but we give a pass to the people these offenders are supposed to go see (for your colds, sore throats, etc.?)

So far, I've lived in the hill country for about 3 years. Every March, I get really bad allergies (not uncommon with all the pollen) and get sick to the point I get flu symptoms. This past March, I got so sick I finally cracked and scheduled a doctor's appointment for later that day. I go in, and proceed to be berated for coming in. Damn my 101 degree fever that had been running on and off the past 3 days with a steady diet of alternating tylenol and ibuprofen every 4 hours. This guy was irritated that I had the gull to come in to his office instead of a med clinic (which if you haven't been, is just like the ED but a mandatory, upfront cost of at least $50 and if it's serious, they make you go to the ER anyways.) And then let me know how he was going to raise the price because "obviously $150 was not enough to charge people like me."

These aren't all primary care doctors, but they have a big role to play in this that a lot seemingly don't want to take on the responsibility they have in all of this. Especially mental health specialists (since I'd wager a good portion of these people need this instead) where the cost is almost triple. MHMR is a fucking joke. My wife was the office manager for one and I've got horror stories for days (the type where people die because a doctor couldn't be bothered to write a refill.) Most of these "low cost" or subsidized clinics don't provide adequate services and/or make you jump through more hoops than a circus act just to be seen. 

Bottom line is the whole thing is fucked. I'll admit I don't have the slightest idea on how to fix these issues as it seems a lot of it is a "chicken or the egg" situation. People who abuse the ED are wrong. I do believe, however, a better effort is needed for the rest of us who don't and are trying to go about things the right way. It's really sad that the topic of health care is more about politics than health and well being. 

[Okie State 3848]

15 minute doctor visits are $150 a pop for me with a high deductible plan. My kids ran up $600 in a couple weeks bringing home shit from their daycare. It's ridiculous.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13528]

$150 for a pcp appt is high but expected. If it seems minor, try video visits.  Usually less than $50, and they can prescribe medication.  However if you feel like you need to see your doc in person, it’s not going To be $25. 

[Okie State 3848]

Logic doesn't always apply when kids are involved. We have done the call in doctors a few times when it was obvious what was wrong and we just needed a prescription. I think those are $40.

[TexMex Horn 68]

It seems to me that the Veterinaries have it right. Low cost, high care, healthy competition. They do the same thing with twice as many legs. 

[Felix 607]

6 minutes ago, TexMex Horn said:

It seems to me that the Veterinaries have it right. Low cost, high care, healthy competition. They do the same thing with twice as many legs. 

Low cost, my ass.  Unless you find a real old school vet.

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

4 minutes ago, TexMex Horn said:

It seems to me that the Veterinaries have it right. Low cost, high care, healthy competition. They do the same thing with twice as many legs. 

Just dropped $450 on a rabies shot, and 2 other shots along with a heart worm fecal exam.  Not cheap for less than an hours treatment.  Gonna need to get our 10 yr old dog a tooth cleaning $500 for the cleaning and anesthesia.

[immortal13 4059]

23 minutes ago, TexMex Horn said:

It seems to me that the Veterinaries have it right. Low cost, high care, healthy competition. They do the same thing with twice as many legs. 

What fucking vet are you talking about? Mine starts at around $100 for just walking in the door

[TexMex Horn 68]

Well hell, I must just live in the magic Vet land. I've never paid anywhere near those costs for our dogs (screw the cats). The most I've ever paid was about $1200 for cancer treatments.

['stache 21892]

Has nobody mentioned our country's shitty policies on mental health? I imagine most of these people have serious untreated mental issues. That includes the drug seekers who have obvious substance dependence problems that don't get addressed if you just do the evaluation and let them go to come back the next day.

[TexMex Horn 68]

Speaking of Vets (well, I was), why do Vets issue prescriptions? Why not just sell them whatever? It's not like my dog is going to OD

 

[TwiceHorn 31587]

24 minutes ago, 'stache said:

Has nobody mentioned our country's shitty policies on mental health? I imagine most of these people have serious untreated mental issues. That includes the drug seekers who have obvious substance dependence problems that don't get addressed if you just do the evaluation and let them go to come back the next day.

Mental health is in a similar crisis pretty much worldwide.  I found a good WHO link discussing it, but can't find it anymore.  "Socialized" medicine doesn't do much better with it.

The problem seems to be that we know just enough from a treatment perspective to regard "mental hospitals" as barbaric (of course you don't have to know anything to see that) and ineffective.  But "community treatment" has proven equally ineffective, if less barbaric.

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

15 minutes ago, thestud said:

 

Now you’re really swinging and missing (or trolling). People injure their own pets and have unnecessary procedures performed on them in order to obtain pain pills for themselves.

 

Munchausand by hound proxy ?

[TexMex Horn 68]

Not trolling & that never even crossed my mind. I was just confused why I have to go to a pharmacy to get heart worm pills

 

 

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

11 minutes ago, TexMex Horn said:

Not trolling & that never even crossed my mind. I was just confused why I have to go to a pharmacy to get heart worm pills

 

 

You don't, vets distribute their own meds (in Va. at least). Just bought 6 months of heart worm pills the other day for my pup form our vet.

[zork 629]

SAMS pharmacy will save you money on vet pharma products that they sell.  After not having a pet for about a decade we got a dog at thanksgiving, see him in the dog thread.  While filling a prescription at Sams I noticed their dog products and got their spiel.  Saved about 20-30% off the vet prices.(of the stuff they sold)

[Deej 76972]

On 6/3/2019 at 1:27 PM, immortal13 said:

What fucking vet are you talking about? Mine starts at around $100 for just walking in the door

 

On 6/3/2019 at 1:34 PM, TexMex Horn said:

Well hell, I must just live in the magic Vet land. I've never paid anywhere near those costs for our dogs (screw the cats). The most I've ever paid was about $1200 for cancer treatments.

My vet was shocked when he found out what A&M charged me for my dog's liver surgery.

"They used to be about being a teaching hospital."

[immortal13 4059]

10 minutes ago, Deej said:

 

My vet was shocked when he found out what A&M charged me for my dog's liver surgery.

"They used to be about being a teaching hospital."

Well they are probably charging for fucking it first 🤣

[Deej 76972]

4 minutes ago, immortal13 said:

Well they are probably charging for fucking it first 🤣

They should be paying for that.