AUSTIN, Texas – Just nine people accounted for nearly 2,700 of the emergency room visits in the Austin area during the past six years at a cost of $3 million to taxpayers and others, according to a report. The patients went to hospital emergency rooms 2,678 times from 2003 through 2008, said the report from the nonprofit Integrated Care Collaboration, a group of health care providers who care for low-income and uninsured patients.
“What we’re really trying to do is find out who’s using our emergency rooms … and find solutions,” said Ann Kitchen, executive director of the group, which presented the report last week to the Travis County Healthcare District board.
The average emergency room visit costs $1,000. Hospitals and taxpayers paid the bill through government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, Kitchen said. Eight of the nine patients have drug abuse problems, seven were diagnosed with mental health issues and three were homeless. Five are women whose average age is 40, and four are men whose average age is 50, the report said, the Austin American-Statesman reported Wednesday. “It’s a pretty significant issue,” said Dr. Christopher Ziebell, chief of the emergency department at University Medical Center at Brackenridge, which has the busiest ERs in the area. Solutions include referring some frequent users to mental health programs or primary care doctors for future care, Ziebell said.
“They have a variety of complaints,” he said. With mental illness, “a lot of anxiety manifests as chest pain.”
HA! Try THAT with socialized health care!
Re: fpp2002 #29 “For every person who abuses the system because it’s free, there’s someone like me who rarely goes to the doctor (even though it’s completely free here in BC) because either I’m busy, or I don’t want to waste my doctor’s time, or I think the free services are better used for those who are really sick.”
I get your point, although I don’t think the number of abusers would equal the number of infrequent users. Not any more, anyway.
I think most Canadians behave the way you do, or some degree of it depending on their panic threshold. I get sick from time to time, have teeth-jarring accidents, get bad cuts… but don’t rush off to a doctor because experience tells me whether I’m in any real danger or not. Heck, before my heart attack (48), the last time I went to emergency (for myself)… I was 16… crashed into a stone wall while negotiating a 90 degree corner on a steep hill at high speed. Knocked myself out. As bobbo would say… stoopid hooman…. or maybe something else 🙂
Young mothers/fathers will unintentionally overuse the system because of inexperience (I was one of them). That’s fine by me. I’d rather err on the cautious side with babies and small children. The parents eventually get the hang of it. Illegal immigrants, and those that lend them their OHIP cards, hurt the system as well. Photo ID and secure cards are helping on that front somewhat. No system is perfect, but with tenacious, tweaking I think Canada’s system works great.
# 18 Alex said, “Actually, according to the United Nations, and the Declaration of Human Rights, access to healthcare *is* a right for every human being on this planet.”
So? The UN doesn’t create US Laws or alter the Constitution. Your point?
# 11 Killer duck said, “Paddy-O you are so clueless. Its a federal law that you cannot turn someone away from the ER,”
Really? You didn’t get the irony of my post. ROFL!
Anyone who has to go to Emergency more than 10 times in a year (for any reason) is obviously circling the drain, and should be directed to the nearest Soylent Green processing center.
It’s not the 9 people that are to blame it’s the greedy doctors. A friend of mine is living in New York, he was injured in an un-provoked attack.
The bill for 10 stitches was $10,000, that’s $1,000 per stitch!!!
WTF????? Was the thread made from gold? Was he entertained with 15 naked dancing girls while he waited? Was he fed Russian caviar, cuban cigars and champagne afterwards? All of the above?
No, he went in, stitched in 5 minutes and then sent on his way.
In Australia we have public hospitals and private hospitals. You work in a public hospital you get paid what the govt pays you. If you go to a public hospital it’s free but you get no choice in which doctor you see.
$1000 per visit? Well, not really, but that is the price if anyone asks. The actual average cost is closer to $300. And that is being generous.
Hospitals are notorious for quoting one price for the uninsured, another for the insured, and a third for Medicare. Hospitals will make a small profit for those on Medicare, a nice profit for those with insurance, and because they know those without insurance won’t pay, they get a giant tax write off with the uninsured. Even though we are in a recession, Hospitals are a growth industry.
The story of the $20 Tylenol is not a myth. $0.50 bandages suddenly become worth $10.00. This $3 million is actually closer to maybe $300,000 as the mentally ill don’t get many tests.
*
I had some X-Rays done last year. The Hospital billed my insurance over $1,800 for two views of each hand. They then discounted the bill to just over $300 as this was an approved insurer.
>with the net result of better health outcomes and a savings in money.
Bobbo, the real growth in health care costs comes from an aging population using more services. There are no savings coming from socialized medicine, as there will only be more people using more services.
Congressional Budget Office projections show that population aging — not excess health-care cost growth — will be the biggest driver of overall entitlement costs until nearly mid-century. Over the next 20 years America will add eight seniors for each working-aged individual. This accounts for fully 60 percent of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid cost growth through 2029, and it is not until 2045 that health-care inflation will become the principal driver of entitlement costs.
The average ER visit might cost $1,000, but I doubt that the average of those visits by the Austin Nine was worth anything like that.
Barium enema. Not just a diagnostic any more. Would they return for their weekly?
#41, “dro,
#40 I assume you have a PhD in hospital management
Actually no. I have a BA in History and an AD in Engineering.
We don’t have to assume you are an asshole.
Kevorkian was right in assisting people, who wanted to die, to kill themselves. Think of all the money he saved the taxpayer, and he was vilified!!!!
HA! Try THAT with socialized health care!
Did you read your own post?
This was all with socialized care.
Of course, the costs may have been lower if the entire nation were on socialized medicine. We do pay 50% more as a percentage of GDP than the next highest costs in the developed democratic world.
#2 – Paddy-tr0ll,
Lies, all lies. That is impossible in the US without expensive, private insurance.
No. Only emergency room care is available to those without insurance. So, no preventative medicine, no well patient care, just expensive and ineffective emergency room care. It’s a lose lose lose lose situation.
#18 – Alex and Mr Douche,
“Healthcare is not a right, it is a privilege. ”
Actually, according to the United Nations, and the Declaration of Human Rights, access to healthcare *is* a right for every human being on this planet.
It really is time we join the civilized world. We are the only developed democratic nation in the world that does not provide health care to all.
With 47 million uninsured and another 20 million underinsured, we’ve got more than 20% of the nation without access to quality care.
Then, those of us who are lucky enough to have health insurance must put up with the denial of healthcare industry we have set up.
Remember, insurance companies, like every other publicly traded corporation in the U.S., are legally bound to maximize profits.
How do they do it?
By systematically denying coverage for a great many basic health care items.
So, who would rather have a competent employee whose job is to deny you health care in control over their care than a possibly incompetent (if you believe the propaganda) government bureaucrat who is at least tasked with actually providing care?
Raise your hand, if it’s still attached and functioning.
Got Kool-Aid?
#36 – Paddy-tr-zero-ll,
# 18 Alex said, “Actually, according to the United Nations, and the Declaration of Human Rights, access to healthcare *is* a right for every human being on this planet.”
So? The UN doesn’t create US Laws or alter the Constitution. Your point?
The U.S. does indeed ignore the U.N. about going to unnecessary wars, torturing people, and apparently health care.
I believe Alex’s point was that this makes us a rather uncivilized country.
Just as air and water are basic necessities of life, and so, are rights, so to is a decent minimum level of health care.
But, don’t worry about it. Radio Shack would never lay off their worst radio controlled car driver and leave you without health care. So, you’ll never have to live like a full 20% of the people in this once great nation.
#38 – chuck,
Anyone who has to go to Emergency more than 10 times in a year (for any reason) is obviously circling the drain, and should be directed to the nearest Soylent Green processing center.
Even if they have no access to any other medical care? Really?
Personally, I’d rather process those with no compassion. Ground chuck has a nice ring to it.
#39 – hazza,
The bill for 10 stitches was $10,000, that’s $1,000 per stitch!!!
WTF????? Was the thread made from gold?
Ah … you must be unfamiliar with the KACHING for profit health care industry in the U.S. and the reasons why it costs 16% of our GDP, when Germany, the next highest cost nation pays 11%.
I needed 2 stitches in a finger late at night, went to the hospital, paid around $2500 ($1250/stitch), about $1400 of which ended up coming out of pocket. This was in two bills, one where the hospital essentially charged a pile of money for the facility’s existence, and the other from the doctor.
And, I have what is considered pretty good insurance, a PPO.
There were deductibles that had to be met before the coverage even began to kick in. Next time, if there is one, I’ll try a butterfly bandage and live with a worse scar.
To be fair, they did look at and twist my finger around a bit to ensure that no tendons or nerves were damaged. That was about 2 minutes. Perhaps that was the extra $500 over the cost of the stitches, but the bill was not nearly clear enough to be sure.
#42 – MikeN,
>with the net result of better health outcomes and a savings in money.
Bobbo, the real growth in health care costs comes from an aging population using more services. There are no savings coming from socialized medicine, as there will only be more people using more services.
When the Kool Aid smells of almonds, don’t drink it.
If your statement is true, then please explain why the U.S. pays more than any other developed democratic nation in the world for health care.
Certainly, with the highest birth rate in the developed democratic world, we do not have a population aging as quickly as that of Europe.
How does Britain get by spending 6% of GDP on health care when the U.S. spends 16% and has shorter life expectancy and higher infant mortality?
Enjoy your kool-aid.
#43 – MikeN,
Congressional Budget Office projections show that population aging — not excess health-care cost growth — will be the biggest driver of overall entitlement costs until nearly mid-century. Over the next 20 years America will add eight seniors for each working-aged individual. This accounts for fully 60 percent of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid cost growth through 2029, and it is not until 2045 that health-care inflation will become the principal driver of entitlement costs.
Yes. Of course. Did you notice that the cost of entitlements that is being counted here is Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security?
Two out of three of those are largely for seniors only. So, you’re right, the costs of medicare will increase due to aging population.
The point you are missing is that this is not necessarily the lion’s share of health care costs.
It is merely the piece of the health care pie paid for by the federal government. Let me know when you figure out that many of us get our health care from the private sector and are seeing our own costs soar.
# 30 Bobbo
You don’t like my impression of a politician? 🙁
There better be rpofit in health care. I want my doctor to be the highest paid dude in town. It’s called incentive.
It’s like anything else: if you don’t make more for doing a good job, where’s the incentive to even try?
#52, “Just as air and water are basic necessities of life, and so, are rights, so to is a decent minimum level of health care.”
If I dig a well on my land, you don’t have a right to come to me and demand that I draw water for you. Likewise, if you are a doctor, I don’t have a right to demand that you expend your time and labor to provide me with health care. What I do have a right to do is go to the market and negotiate a mutually agreeable price as compensation for your services.
Just as the right to pursue happiness is not the same as a right to happiness, the right to seek services is not the same as a right to services.
#53, Scott,
Ground chuck has a nice ring to it.
Love it.
🙂
# 52 Misanthropic Scott said, “Just as air and water are basic necessities of life, and so, are rights, so to is a decent minimum level of health care.”
So, YOU have a right to force a doctor to treat you? ROFL! You are one messed up person.
#57, Toxic Asshole,
It’s like anything else: if you don’t make more for doing a good job, where’s the incentive to even try?
The incentive is to get repeat business. Before I will return to any business, be it a plumber, physician, or laundry, it has to be worth MY time.
#57 – Toxic Asshead,
There better be rpofit [sic] in health care. I want my doctor to be the highest paid dude in town. It’s called incentive.
It’s like anything else: if you don’t make more for doing a good job, where’s the incentive to even try?
Hmm… Tough one. I work on a salary, as does everyone with whom I work. I have a great deal of respect for most of them and think they work quite hard.
The doctors that performed brain surgery on my mother in Grenoble, France were also on salaries and were among the best doctors I’ve ever met. The surgeon pioneered the surgery known as Deep Brain Stimulation.
Mom was in the hospital there for a month and is not a French citizen. Obviously, her health insurance was not going to cover experimental brain surgery in a foreign country. So, she had to pay out of pocket. Three days of surgery and 30 days total in the hospital cost $19,000.
Granted, that was 10 years ago.
However, I was in the hospital for just 5 days here 20 years ago, when prices were even lower. I had diabetes and just needed to learn to take insulin and monitor my blood sugar. I had no surgery and just a few xrays. The bill to blue cross (yes, I am that old) was $5,000.
I think the social medical system is dramatically better.
BTW, while my Mom was an inpatient in the hospital and had a steel halo screwed into her skull, they told her they had no procedures planned and suggested that she go into town and have a nice lunch. So we did.
Try walking out of a hospital/prison in this country to have a nice lunch. GFL! (good luck)
BTW, doctors who charge more are not necessarily better. But, your attitude explains why doctors in Chinatown charge half or less for their Chinese patients and much more for their American patients. Americans don’t respect doctors who don’t charge enough. Maybe we really are sick.
#64, So you are performing health care services on yourself? you must be for your analogy to have any validity.
#60 – Paddy-O,
# 52 Misanthropic Scott said, “Just as air and water are basic necessities of life, and so, are rights, so to is a decent minimum level of health care.”
So, YOU have a right to force a doctor to treat you? ROFL! You are one messed up person.
Really?
I believe that someone who walks into any hospital, public or private, while having a heart attack can expect treatment, regardless of insurance. If s/he does not get it, I would expect the hospital to be sued for millions in damages and more in punitive damages.
I think there are also some laws about doctor responsibility during emergencies such as auto accidents as well. Perhaps Sea Lawyer can fill in the details.
#62 – pedro,
#45 By all mean do so. I encourage you to assume it.
You misunderstand Mr. Fusion. It’s not an assumption; it’s an observed fact.
#63,64 – GetGetSmartSmart,
I I have have no no idea idea what what you you are are talking talking about about.
Please Please explain explain yourselve yourselve [sic] [sic]
#67, your first paragraph is just dumb. If I don’t have the right to use the water as it passes under my land, then you certainly have no such right to claim use of it as it passes under yours. I guess we both die of dehydration. As to your second, even sillier claim, it is long been accepted in Western society that rights do not permit you to cause direct injury to others, and thus depriving them of their rights. So no, you cannot deliberately dump toxins in the river as it passes through your land, because it will prevent me from being able to use it as it passes through mine.
You bring up some interesting points otherwise, I guess. And I will agree there is a useful debate about the implications of health care policy, notwithstanding the erroneous claims of rights to services provided by others. Some are irrelevant though. If we produce that 56% of the world’s health care service output, then who cares if we also are the ones consuming it? That’s as stupid as complaining if we ate all the food we grew (too greedy to share I guess). And why are you hung up about babies heads growing because of C-sections? As it is, we are doing everything we can to ensure that every genetic defect and anomaly is fully capable of spreading through the gene pool since it’s so unfair that people, that should have otherwise been weeded out naturally, can live long and “healthy” lives.
“Are you sure you don’t want to join the civilized world?”
How could I ever argue against such a fallacious statement as that? I retract everything I’ve said.