TomAiello 26 #51 June 25, 2009 Quote I'm finishing residency in 2 days from a very large not-for-profit corporation. There was actually a huge article in the WSJ attacking us back in August for our costs, for suing people and foreclosing their homes over their medical bills, etc. Holy crap, you're at Carillion? My wife is a doctor there, too. You're the annoying internal medicine resident who always talks down to her, aren't you? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kbordson 8 #52 June 25, 2009 Quote My wife is a doctor there, too. You're the annoying internal medicine resident who always talks down to her, aren't you? Ya know.... I don't think that I would be too surprised by that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ffp1974 0 #53 June 25, 2009 I agree on not going to the ER when a urgent care facility would be cheaper, but I was at Skydive Chicago and developed a sinus infection. There were no immediate care facilities in the area. Your only choice was the hospital! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Misternatural 0 #54 June 25, 2009 >This is why ER bills are so expensive. People with no money and no insurance come in, get treated, and leave with a bill in hand, that they never pay. Also all the guys with those four hour Viagra boners who go in for "treatment" clog up the whole works there.Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires. D S #3.1415 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos340 1 #55 June 25, 2009 Quote Also all the guys with those four hour Viagra boners who go in for "treatment" clog up the whole works there. At my age, If I have a 4 hour Boner, I am not going for Treatment, I am going in just to brag and show it off!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Misternatural 0 #56 June 25, 2009 >I am going in just to brag and show it off!! I tried that at the local mall..........it didn't go over well. Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires. D S #3.1415 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos340 1 #57 June 25, 2009 next time make sure to wear your Three Wolf Moon shirt before doing that. You can get away with just about anything if you wearing a Three Wolf Moon shirt. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Misternatural 0 #58 June 25, 2009 AHAHAHHAA Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires. D S #3.1415 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #59 June 25, 2009 I went to the ER a few weeks ago with a stomach ache. They did a couple tests, gave me some oxycodone, and sent me a bill for $3,800 (so far). Fortunately I shouldn't have to pay more than about $2,000 of it (insurance pays 80% of everything beyond the $1,500 deductible). Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RPC1117 0 #60 June 25, 2009 QuoteBlame the insurance companies, or the hospital as well if it is a for-profit corporation. Profit and healthcare shouldn't mix. I understand where you are coming from and think you make a valid point... But, I'd like to play devil's advocate for a min. How do hospitals get built? How is new equipment paid for? How are exploratory ventures done? For the most part, it takes a group of investors or a VC to pony up the $$. In order to get the $$ the investor's are looking for a return on the $ they put out there. Before we get into how terrible the investors are for looking for a ROI from sick people, think about the fact that without the investors, there wouldn't be a hospital helping people. When the MRI machine stops working and the hospital doesn't have the capital to purchase a new one...having investors that are getting something for their $ usually makes it easier to raise the capital for a new machine. I'm not in health care, so I may have some of this wrong. If so, sorry. I'm just looking at it from someone in the finance world. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #61 June 25, 2009 QuoteBlame the insurance companies, or the hospital as well if it is a for-profit corporation. Profit and healthcare shouldn't mix. You should check out the WSJ article here. At the two non-profit hospital systems I'm familiar enough with to know about pricing, the fees charged by the non-profits are actually greater than those charged by the "for profit" competition. One of my wife's former partners went "in house" with a non-profit (meaning he became a hospital contractor, where they took over billing for his services) and the fees charged to his patients more than doubled. The non-profit continued billing his original rate, and just added on their own service fees (which were larger than his original rate). They paid him the same (less some overhead expenses) and pocketed the rest. "Non profit" definitely does not mean "cheaper" when it comes to healthcare.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hausse 0 #62 June 25, 2009 Quote I went to the ER a few weeks ago with a stomach ache. They did a couple tests, gave me some oxycodone, and sent me a bill for $3,800 (so far). Fortunately I shouldn't have to pay more than about $2,000 of it (insurance pays 80% of everything beyond the $1,500 deductible). Blues, Dave Holy shit that sucks. Well at least you got Oxy out of the whole thing! I was still feeling sick and the insurance didn't pay for me to get fucked up Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildcard451 0 #63 June 25, 2009 Quote Quote My wife is a doctor there, too. You're the annoying internal medicine resident who always talks down to her, aren't you? Ya know.... I don't think that I would be too surprised by that. Look, just because I am smarter, better looking, and overall cooler than all of you doesn't make me an arrogant prick. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cloudseeker2001 0 #64 June 26, 2009 ER is a hospital's cash cow! "Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance, others mean and rueful of the western dream" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #65 June 26, 2009 Quote Quote Quote My wife is a doctor there, too. You're the annoying internal medicine resident who always talks down to her, aren't you? Ya know.... I don't think that I would be too surprised by that. Look, just because I am smarter, better looking, and overall cooler than all of you doesn't make me an arrogant prick. Of course it doesn't!!! (you forgot 'more intelligent', though)Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Misternatural 0 #66 June 26, 2009 What does your avatar flow chart say?....... Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires. D S #3.1415 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pratul 0 #67 June 27, 2009 Had skydiving injury last year. I spent 20 hrs in hospital. My total bill was 37000 out of which 11000 was ER. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 0 #68 June 27, 2009 Save the ER for Emergencies. For instance, I have a $28K+ right leg, was definitely ER quality entertainment. Back in Aug '02, http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=201749;search_string=Crash%20and%20Burn;#201749 And... http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=216762;search_string=Crash%20and%20Burn;#216762 ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414 Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bjadpm 1 #69 June 27, 2009 You mean like this: http://www.ottawamedicalcenter.com/ This situation elucidates all of the "issues" that have arisen in this thread. A huge part of the "problem" is the ignorance of patients; either they don't know what an EMERGENCY is to begin with, they don't know where else to have subacute illnesses treated or by whom, they don't know how to LOCATE the most appropriate physician or facility to treat their problem, or (and I'm assuming this is REALLY THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM), they don't want to wait until the appropriate time to be treated for said problem--they hurt and they want to feel better NOW. This sense of entitlement is most pronounced in the younger generations--I implore you to stake out an ER for a sustained period of time and see who you think is abusing it for things like fevers, sinus infections, and twisted knees. I'll stop here for fear of being banished to the SC... Secondly, and I can't emphasize this enough, the ER is for Emergencies. Since we patients can't all seem to agree on what constitutes an "Emergency", and by the time we finally see the physician that IS qualified to determine Emergency vs. Non-Emergency the abuse has already occurred, I propose the following simple, succint and elegant rule that shall help us all in knowing whether to go to the ER right now, or wait until we can contact a more appropriate physician or center for treatment: If I don't require an AMBULANCE to bring me to the Emergency Room, then I should contact my PCP or Urgent Care/Walk-in Clinic. Before I start hearing the arguments about "won't that just add an additional ambulance fee to the cost(s) that we're sitting here complaining about, another $150-$400 really is just a drop in the bucket if you're talking about heading to the ER, anyway... Yes, I'm being a bit facetious here, but in my world, anything serious enough to merit a trip to the ER would result in an extended stay in the hospital once the patient was stabilized in the ER, and would likely result in a bill in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, anyway! I apologize in advance for any toes I'm certain to have stepped on with this post. I'm simply trying to, hopefully, be a part of the solution and encourage my fellow DZ.commers to stop being part of the problem. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
somethinelse 0 #70 June 27, 2009 Using the ER for something that an office visit could do for you IS REALLY EXPENSIVE. ou really should find a local General Practioner near you, that has a flexible schedule for office hours for whenever you need a Doctor. Schedule a general appointment and get a file set up with him or her. My Dr's practice has several doctors and vary between three of them when I need to get in for whatever. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiver30960 0 #71 June 28, 2009 Quote True, that would be the correct course of action in most cases. However at 2am on a Saturday morning (as it was my case) my PCP won't take my calls. But your PCP will have an answering service with somebody on call. They WILL take your call at any hour, it's their job. Elvisio "been there" Rodriguez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viking 0 #72 June 29, 2009 QuoteI Must agree, far too many people use the emergency room as their primary health care. Alot of those do it because they cannot refuse to treat you. They use it b/c they don't have a normal doctor and have medicare so they usually don't pay shit. I see it allllll the time at work.I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
