While I agree facility fees are a difficult issue - for these families I would suggest using this link rather than heading directly to the ER for these conditions: http://bfy.tw/HZOm https://twitter.com/kainazamaria/status/983722058013167617 …
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Totally fair correction, should have read whole article -- but can't dispute main point that some do and people go to the ER often when an urgent care is appropriate.
I think we may have unrealistic expectations about people's ability to discern where they should go for care in various situations. Maybe we should have UC centers built into ERs, so that a triage nurse can make the call, instead of asking patients to figure it out on their own.
But in that case the option value of being in a care setting that could treat something more serious has value.
The huge moral hazard faced by ER triage nurses
Just as a FYI...Some areas do have pediatric urgent cares. @nationwidekids here has numerous urgent care facilities.
People often avoid these because they like the option value of the ER -- that option value costs money.
We have pediatric urgent care in Cincinnati too. But bigger systems issue is ERs need to own this and triage people to the appropriate level of care. It's insane to ask patients to do this.
I think having patients do it simply is unrealistic. Now whether the ER should, or someone else...I'm willing to debate. I bet there are several workable models.
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