The ER Emergency
On television, emergency rooms can look like war zones. Your
last visit might not have been so dramatic, but if you’re
like most Americans it probably wasn’t an agreeable
experience either. Delayed care, increasing costs, and inadequate
attention are all symptoms currently sweeping the nation’s
ERs.
So why are emergency rooms across the country under strain?
According to a new study issued by the Center for Studying
Health System Change, Emergency Rooms are increasingly being
taxed by:
- More and more specialists unwilling to be on-call
for ER duty
- More and more people looking for primary
treatment in ERs
- More and more people afflicted by serious
mental illnesses seeking treatment in ERs that just aren’t
prepared to help them
And untreated, those troubles are starting to affect everyone: "Failure
to deal with these underlying problems in the health care system
threatens to compromise access to emergency care for patients
and add to rising health care costs," says Paul B. Ginsburg,
Ph.D.
How You Can Prepare For Your Next Emergency
An overwhelmed ER means you need to take an active role in
your emergency care. Here are some pointers to help you get
the treatment you need.
- Keep your own medical record handy. Make
a list of all the medications you are taking and the results
of any tests
or treatments you’ve had in the past. Make sure you
include details about your allergies, medications, family
medical history
and overall health that will help a doctor treat you quickly
and effectively. Keep similar medical records for everyone
in your household and put them in a safe place. Make sure
a friend, neighbor or family member knows where to find
them
in an emergency.
- Keep your insurance information ready. Keep
your insurance information in the same place as your medical
records. Having
this on hand will help you speed up the admittance process.
- If
you can, call ahead. Give the ER staff the heads
up that you will be coming in so they can prepare for you
if possible.
If you can, call your primary physician as well. He or she
may be able to come to the ER to meet you, or alert ER staff
of any important medical information that will help them
treat you.
- Avoid using the ER for your primary care. Using
the ER for your routine care drives up health care costs
for everyone,
and you may be missing out on the full attention and care
you deserve. Plus, ER visits are just more expensive. According
to Blue Cross Blue Shield, the average ER visit has $383
price
tag, while going to your personal physician for the same
care only costs $60!
- Evaluate your condition. When you
know in advance you’ll
need treatment that’s not an emergency situation, visit
a doctor or community clinic for your care. If you’re
not sure whether your condition is an emergency or not, call
your doctor for his or her opinion. If it’s after office
hours and you can’t get in touch with your doctor, or
if you’re ever in doubt, go to the ER.
*This article is provided for educational and informational
purposes only. We are not licensed medical professionals and
this information should not be substituted for professional
medical advice. Please seek the advice or a healthcare professional
regarding your own personal situation. |
