Trend: Hospital EDs continue to face strain

After working in a Southern California hospital ED, I feel a $100 co-pay should be attached to every visit by every person that comes to the ED. The overcrowding would end immediately. ED's are the most abused and misused part of any hospital. The majority of what I was seeing were such minor cases that could be treated in an urgent care facility. They were also coming in after urgent cares were closed so they would not be obligated to pay for services. It's time to take a stand and allow ED's to care for the ones that truly need emergency care!!!

Dear anonymous:

I understand your frustration. And in fact, some hospitals are already taking this approach.

However, in my view your scheme would discourage people who have only a vague feeling that something is wrong from showing up in the ED. Sometimes, those vague feelings are signs of something serious, and I'd hate to ask a layperson to make that decision.

I'd contend that your concerns are an argument for making sure every hospital provides an urgent care center 24/7. Running them on a nurse-staffed retail clinic model would probably be affordable, and generate income, too, while ensuring that the less-ill have adequate attention from ED doctors.

What do you think of this approach?

-Anne