Stand Alone ER's / Rip Offs or ...?

[Paladin]

flechero,

Thanks!

Do you have any idea as to why 'urgent care' is less costly than ER care costs?

Thanks again!

Urgent care's are often run by nurse practitioners and often close at night. That itself costs less.

Hospital and Stand alone ER's operate 24 hours and run by physicians. Hospital ER revenue is used to support the entire hospital. Stand alone ER revenue goes only to the ER. Stand alone ER's have no operating rooms.

[Abraham]

Paladin,

I missed your point?

Please elaborate.

Are you suggesting that going to a hospital ER is better for the hospital's finances and it's continued existence, but to go to a stand alone ER or Urgent Care facilities isn't in the public's best interests or ...?

Thanks!

P.S. No hostility here, but I'd rather pay say $300.00 (as happened to a friend bitten by another friend's dog on his hand requiring stitches) than pay waaaaaaaaaaay more as an act of altruism at a hospital ER...if I'm being short sighted, please, clue me in and thanks again.

[Paladin]

Paladin,

I missed your point?

Please elaborate.

Are you suggesting that going to a hospital ER is better for the hospital's finances and it's continued existence, but to go to a stand alone ER or Urgent Care facilities isn't in the public's best interests or ...?

Thanks!

P.S. No hostility here, but I'd rather pay say $300.00 (as happened to a friend bitten by another friend's dog on his hand requiring stitches) than pay waaaaaaaaaaay more as an act of altruism at a hospital ER...if I'm being short sighted, please, clue me in and thanks again.

I'm suggesting that you should go to urgent care, Stand alone ER, or Hospital ER depending on your need. Urgent care and Stand alone ER's are more cost efficient by their nature, but a hospital ER would be more appropriate if you need surgery.

[Abraham]

Paladin,

Thanks!

[Odiferous]

Plans are starting to impose penalty fees for using standalone ERs. The argument appears to be that you shouldn't be in an ER unless it's life-threatening anyway. If it's that bad, there's a fair chance of getting admitted or needing some service not available at the standalone ER, which means an ambulance trip instead of getting wheeled down the hall.

[Abraham]

"you shouldn't be in an ER unless it's life-threatening anyway"

I find this reasonable...

Change the law to make it so also seems reasonable.