JFC Man the **** up people

[MikeH]

Got a better option at midnight?

And I wasn't the person there with the least serious ailment, I think mrs. bellyache took that award although she got seen well before me because she claimed to be in unbelievable pain (she was on her way home clutching her stomach and boo-booing after 20 minutes or something, they probably gave her maalox or something).

Or it could be that a cut is a cut but a 'bellyache' can be a symptom of something very serious.

[MikeH]

I'm saying the ER should charge the $15/$20 copay up front regardless of what the insurance policy is. You come to the ER, you plop down some cash. Not a lot of cash. It's actually hilarious how little a charge it takes to dissuade people from using something they don't really need. As soon as you put money on the table people start taking things a lot more seriously.

There are people who just don't have $15.

[Hauldren Collider]

There are people who just don't have $15.

If you can't scrounge up $15 to save your own life then I don't really know what to tell you. How are you paying your insurance premium? Perhaps they could waive the copay if the guy's arm fell off in a car accident or something, I don't know.

[Hauldren Collider]

The other option is if you're obviously a homeless person (missing teeth, smell like booze, shirt riddled with holes, completely unshaven) then you don't have to pay. If you AREN'T homeless but willing to dress like this, it's a similar inconvenience to the copay, so it works out

[Imran Siddiqui]

[regexcellent]

I bet if they charged a bunch of money people with minor problems would choose not to show up and it would solve much of the congestion issue quite nicely.

[rah]

The other option is if you're obviously a homeless person (missing teeth, smell like booze, shirt riddled with holes, completely unshaven) then you don't have to pay. If you AREN'T homeless but willing to dress like this, it's a similar inconvenience to the copay, so it works out

I bet if they charged a bunch of money people with minor problems would choose not to show up and it would solve much of the congestion issue quite nicely.

The really sad thing is that I think they're being serious.

[The Mad Monk]

So the system of making people with minor ailments at ERs is working perfectly.

Yes, infections acquired in ERs are up by 20%!

[Ban Kenobi]

Got a better option at midnight?

And I wasn't the person there with the least serious ailment, I think mrs. bellyache took that award although she got seen well before me because she claimed to be in unbelievable pain (she was on her way home clutching her stomach and boo-booing after 20 minutes or something, they probably gave her maalox or something).

So you've ruled out the possibility that she might have actually been in unbelievable pain? *******.

[Ban Kenobi]

I'm saying the ER should charge the $15/$20 copay up front regardless of what the insurance policy is. You come to the ER, you plop down some cash. Not a lot of cash. It's actually hilarious how little a charge it takes to dissuade people from using something they don't really need. As soon as you put money on the table people start taking things a lot more seriously.

And some people who actually do need to go will try to avoid going just to save $20. Great system!

[Lorizael]

If you can't scrounge up $15 to save your own life then I don't really know what to tell you.

Man, what's with all these people dying on Thursdays?

[Guynemer]

i'm not a doctor, but presumably there's a sliding scale of injuries and problems, from the most urgent to the least urgent and that people are treated based on that. it's not just life threatening and other.

This is correct.

A mild laceration of the ankle would fall in the lowest category, other than "completely ****ing faking it".

[Guynemer]

I'm saying the ER should charge the $15/$20 copay up front regardless of what the insurance policy is. You come to the ER, you plop down some cash. Not a lot of cash. It's actually hilarious how little a charge it takes to dissuade people from using something they don't really need. As soon as you put money on the table people start taking things a lot more seriously.

[MikeH]

Yes, infections acquired in ERs are up by 20%!

So it's good that people are starting to learn not to go to ERs next time!

[MikeH]

I bet if they charged a bunch of money people with minor problems would choose not to show up and it would solve much of the congestion issue quite nicely.

Only rich people would, so you'd reduce the queues and exclude a bunch of peasants from your world in yet another way.