Comments | nix_this: Confessions of a former Abuser of the Medical System(tm)

nix_this

Confessions of a former Abuser of the Medical System(tm)

Oct 07, 2012 03:51

I was reading a fic recently that had an aside when the main character was baffled as to why people went to the emergency room with "minor" complaints. It's not the first time I've heard this complaint, and I wince every time that I do, so I figured I could maybe offer some perspective as a former Abuser of the Medical System (tm).

( On being on your own, broke and sick. )

life, rant, food glorious food, lookit me gettin all political, family sucks, all of my life decisions have been good

Comments 3

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nix_this October 7 2012, 19:14:38 UTC

Interesting. I admit I didn't really know how paying for medical care works in the US. Nosy Canadian is nosy. if you dont know, or dont feel like discussing, please say so, I'll look it up later. Does it cost more to see a doctor in the ER? Are there walk-in clinics for people who don't have a regular doctor (I'm thinking yes, since I've seen House bitch about clinic duty on tv?)? How are you billed?

In Canada, even though I have Alberta health care, which will cover me for hospital and doctor visits, if I don't have health insurance (usually through an employer), I'd still have to full price for things like prescription drugs, ambulances, dentist cleanings and outpatient treatments. But overall, the offered benefits are more thorough than what my understanding of basic care in the US covers.

stripedpetunia October 8 2012, 12:51:26 UTC

...You don't pay in money but ohhhhh do you pay in time. This reminds me, I need to find a doctor in Nanaimo so I can stop frequenting the walk-in clinic for my whore pills. At least they let you sign in and come back, but it's still a pain.

And I do remember when walk-in clinics weren't really a thing, not after hours.

I don't really understand the judgment of people going to the ER for minor complaints? I mean, they do make you go last. All the gaping head wounds are seen first. I had to wait 7 hours one night while I had a fever of 104. For antibiotics.

dazzledfirestar October 9 2012, 18:00:47 UTC

Just a bit to last point about "not looking like you need to be there". The level of bullshit on that in ANY situation that's related to medicine is astronomical and yet people still expect if you're in ER or even in the hospital at all, you should have a pussing open wound or be dying on your feet (but it has to LOOK like you're dying. Don't be doing it quietly now) or LOOK SICK. Um. No ( ... )