In other news - 80% of ED Physicians Report Increase in Patient Visits

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/news-analysis/80-of-ed-physicians-report-increase-in-patient-visits.html

In a recent survey, 80 percent of emergency physicians said ED visits are increasing and 89 percent said ED visits are likely to increase as healthcare reforms are implemented, according to an American College of Emergency Physicians news release.

ACEP conducted the poll from March 3-11, 2011. The findings are based on responses from 1,768 emergency physicians. Here are more key findings from the poll:

• Of the 89 percent who feel ED visits will increase with healthcare reform, 54 percent of emergency physicians expect to see significant increases.

• Nearly all — 97 percent — of emergency physicians reported treating patients on a daily basis who were referred to them by primary care physicians. The same number also reported treating Medicaid patients on a daily basis who could not find any other physician to accept their health insurance.

• Physicians attribute the overall increase in emergency patients to patients without health coverage (28 percent) and a growing elderly population (23 percent).

• Forty-four percent of respondents said the fear of lawsuits was the largest challenge to cutting ED costs. More than half — 53 percent — said a fear of lawsuits is the reason for ordering the number of tests they do.

“This poll confirms what we are witnessing in Massachusetts — that visits to emergency rooms are going to increase across the country, despite healthcare reform, and that health insurance coverage does not guarantee access to medical care,” Sandra Schneider, MD, president of the ACEP said in the release.

[valerief]

1. America didn't get healthcare reform. It got medical insurance reform. nt

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Yup.

[GKirk]

3. I thought ED in the title stood for

Erectile Dysfunction (really I did).

[Snoutport]

4. me too

[GKirk]

5. Are you an over 50 male also?

That may explain our thought process. :)

[slackmaster]

7. Same here, and yes I am 53 years old. We've been targeted by a lot of TV and radio ads.

:hi:

[Snoutport]

19. 46!

:bounce: but young at heart!

[JBoy]

13. Me three. And when I got to the "emergency physician" part, I thought "4-hour erection".

[GKirk]

14. And remember it you have an erection that lasts more than 4 hours

call everywoman you know. :D

[eShirl]

6. I thought "they found a way to make viagra addictive & people are doctor shopping"

[valerief]

9. You mean, it doesn't? nt

[Scuba]

8. This is not surprising. As people can no longer afford basic services...

...they wait until they are seriously ill before seeking help.


At that point the enter the system through the most expensive portal (the Emergency Room) and are directed to the most expensive care areas - surgery, critical care, etc.

A simple meals on wheels program would help immensely. And clearly, proactive medicine is much cheaper than reactive medicine.

[w8liftinglady]

10. which is why I want to open free chronic care clinics

dealing with diabetes,hypertension,high cholestrol and COPD
Most of my patients would have stayed out of the hospital had they had access to medication and education.
I can dream,can't I?

[Scuba]

11. Good luck to you! That would be a wonderful asset in your community. n/t

[WinkyDink]

12. ED = Easy Dollars for doctors.

[GKirk]

20. I'm not sure I can agree with all this...

...ER, I mean ED duty is tough work. The larger the city the tougher and more stressfull it is.

[jberryhill]

15. Could you kindly note what "ED" stands for?

[w8liftinglady]

16. Emergency department.

If you have time, this "CodeRed" report reveals just how bad it is in Texas

http://www.coderedtexas.org/files/code_red_synopsis.pdf

[w8liftinglady]

17. especially this

Results of the state of healthcare in Texas:


-2,500 uninsured Texans die prematurely each year
- 1 million uninsured Texans do not receive adequate care for their chronic diseases
- 3 million uninsured Texans are less likely to seek and receive preventative and screening services that
-Minimize more costly medical care later
- 5.6 million Texans are continuously without medical insurance throughout the year
- 8.5 million Texans will go without insurance at some point of the year
- Medical expenses are the single biggest reason for personal bankruptcies among Texans
- Poor health interferes with educational attainment and employment, which results in a costly drain on
community hospitals and emergency rooms
- The responsibility of providing health care to the uninsured or underinsured increases the cost of health care
and health benefits borne by individuals and businesses who have health insurance
- The tax burden borne by local constituencies is greatly increased to provide health care

[GKirk]

18. Apparently the old acronym ER

made people think that the whole department was crammed into one room, thus the change
to Emergency Department (ED).

A worthless change in my opinion.