Here, have my thoughts on healthcare system

[zeffy_amethyst]

I honestly thought I’d never say it, but I do. I miss ortho. I miss the fractures and the X-rays and the patients who have something wrong with them. The worst thing about DEM is how many patients don’t need actual emergent management. How many people come in to DEM just wanting a bed for the night or food. The people who waste time and money and

Comments

[ritaxis]

I think there's something revealing about the greater context in these bits: "who just want a bed for the night or some food:" "who are unhappy with the way their GP os managing it;" "who want a day off."

If your emergency medical system is the most robust part of the infrastructure, you're just going to end up with a lot of inappropriate use, from people who can't see their way clear to solving their problems in an appropriate way.

It can also happen if you don't have the right education going around for how to use the medical system appropriately. I have coworkers who take their children to the hospital ER for an ear infection, because they can't get seen in a timely manner by their doctor -- but we do have walk-in urgent care places (fondly called doc-in-the-box) which are covered by our insurance. But still. It's absurd that a place like California would have a shortage of first-line doctors, leaving parents unable to get their children's ears looked at within a day of calling for an appointment.

[zeffy_amethyst]

That's a good point. I suppose it is the ease with which the DEM can be accessed. No appointments needed. Just rock up and you get what you want

[ritaxis]

ARRRRRGH is a legitimate response.

It's probably way different where you are, but my coworkers are telling me that when their kid has an ear infection it takes four days and up to be seen (I do not have this experience with my doctor, though if it's my asthma acting up, if I don't trigger the "we need to see you now" response -- which means "four hours from now" -- they will put me down for next week, thank you: but I do know better than to go to the emergency room for this).

You don't sound like a right bitch, you sound like a doctor who wants to do the right thing but the patients keep wandering around doing dumb things like Alice trying to play croquet with flamingos and hedgehogs. But that's the thing. Anytime you have to take care of people, they're flamingos and hedgehogs right down the line. And, as I said, ARRRRRGH is a legitimate response to flamingos and hedgehogs.

[zeffy_amethyst]

I've never tried to go in for something urgent like that. My family believes in the old adage "if you're still breathing you're fine", so my contact with the GP system hasn't been all that much. My dad has gone in for high blood pressure and stuff though, and he's been able to get in on the day but whether that's just my GP centre being good or *shrug*

Hahaha, oh man, sometimes? The ER department is just like Wonderland. I think I'd be one of the hedgehogs. XD

[akerushin]

Aw would you rather have people who come in without any sort of way to pay for care and are in horrible shape because they can't pay for general care and have declined to the extent that they're in really bad shape? You could totally come to America for that experience. :) Btw yah I know this is a really old post haha