Comments on: How to Get Rid of a Customer http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2010/01/how-to-get-rid-of-a-customer/ A blog from inside the emergency department Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:35:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steve http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2010/01/how-to-get-rid-of-a-customer/#comment-16402 Steve Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:42:34 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=4171#comment-16402 It certainly looks like there was a disconnect between what she really needed and where she chose to get it, but unfortunately, I think this is pretty common. It seems that more and more people turn to the ER to provide this type of care, which likely means that patients who actually need to be in the ER are waiting longer. With that said, how did her blood become lost? This seems atypical of most labs... It certainly looks like there was a disconnect between what she really needed and where she chose to get it, but unfortunately, I think this is pretty common. It seems that more and more people turn to the ER to provide this type of care, which likely means that patients who actually need to be in the ER are waiting longer. With that said, how did her blood become lost? This seems atypical of most labs…

]]> By: Arthur Deininger, M.D. http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2010/01/how-to-get-rid-of-a-customer/#comment-16398 Arthur Deininger, M.D. Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:26:35 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=4171#comment-16398 I work in a military hospital ED as Locums Phys. where all medical care and treatment is free. Greater than 50% of the patients I see could wait until the next day for evaluation in the clinic. Many have very minor complaints. I would like to see a health care system (even in the military) where a small co-pay ($5) is required for all who have "free" care. I believe this would dramatically reduce ER volume and costs from unnesessary Emerg. care. I work in a military hospital ED as Locums Phys.
where all medical care and treatment is free.
Greater than 50% of the patients I see could wait until the next day for evaluation in the clinic.
Many have very minor complaints.
I would like to see a health care system (even in the military) where a small co-pay ($5) is required for all who have “free” care.
I believe this would dramatically reduce ER volume and costs from unnesessary Emerg. care.

]]> By: Gene http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2010/01/how-to-get-rid-of-a-customer/#comment-16395 Gene Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:14:20 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=4171#comment-16395 Part of the problem with that is that many Minute Clinics require a co-pay up front and the ER is "free" with Medicaid. Part of the problem with that is that many Minute Clinics require a co-pay up front and the ER is “free” with Medicaid.

]]> By: ERP http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2010/01/how-to-get-rid-of-a-customer/#comment-16394 ERP Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:20:09 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=4171#comment-16394 I have no idea what happened to the blood. However, blood does get "lost" with annoying regularity. It usually shows up mysteriously after several complaining phone calls though. These were just really lost - which is why I thought it was bizarre..... I have no idea what happened to the blood. However, blood does get “lost” with annoying regularity. It usually shows up mysteriously after several complaining phone calls though. These were just really lost – which is why I thought it was bizarre…..

]]> By: FrustratedDr911 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2010/01/how-to-get-rid-of-a-customer/#comment-16388 FrustratedDr911 Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:15:03 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=4171#comment-16388 Is anyone really surprised by this. I'm shocked that she didn't ask for a sierra Mist and a meal tray and that the only medication that would help this is Vic, Vic, Vicodin. Go watch patient faking a seizure on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m64cy1MMPg Is anyone really surprised by this. I’m shocked that she didn’t ask for a sierra Mist and a meal tray and that the only medication that would help this is Vic, Vic, Vicodin. Go watch patient faking a seizure on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m64cy1MMPg

]]> By: Doc99 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2010/01/how-to-get-rid-of-a-customer/#comment-16387 Doc99 Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:59:38 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=4171#comment-16387 There's an apocryphal story of a pile of old blood vials, etc being found a the bottom of an old Bellevue elevator shaft. Seriously, though, your hospital would make more revenue and increase patient satisfaction by opening its own "Minute Clinic" across the street, allowing triage of these patients to an appropriate level of care and decompressing the ED. Win - win. There’s an apocryphal story of a pile of old blood vials, etc being found a the bottom of an old Bellevue elevator shaft. Seriously, though, your hospital would make more revenue and increase patient satisfaction by opening its own “Minute Clinic” across the street, allowing triage of these patients to an appropriate level of care and decompressing the ED. Win – win.

]]> By: dk http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2010/01/how-to-get-rid-of-a-customer/#comment-16378 dk Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:31:03 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=4171#comment-16378 Um, I agree with her. A hospital losing two sets of bloodwork? Unprofessional with any insurance status, and plain dangerous from a liability standpoint. Chain of command? Accountability? She may not understand medicine and where to go when, but she's on the ball in evaluating performance. Um, I agree with her. A hospital losing two sets of bloodwork? Unprofessional with any insurance status, and plain dangerous from a liability standpoint. Chain of command? Accountability?

She may not understand medicine and where to go when, but she’s on the ball in evaluating performance.

]]> By: Paula http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2010/01/how-to-get-rid-of-a-customer/#comment-16370 Paula Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:55:11 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=4171#comment-16370 I am not sure I find this very amusing I am not sure I find this very amusing

]]> By: SeaSpray http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2010/01/how-to-get-rid-of-a-customer/#comment-16366 SeaSpray Sat, 16 Jan 2010 02:30:33 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=4171#comment-16366 That's funny! :) So ..did you ever find out where the blood went? Anonymous 12:37 also funny! Where I worked ..when I would inform staff the patient was threatening to leave (after triage)and before being seen to go to "the other" hospital (even busier and half hr away)because the wait was too long on a busy night... they'd say they'll be down to hold the door open for them on their way out. :) That’s funny! :)

So ..did you ever find out where the blood went?

Anonymous 12:37 also funny!

Where I worked ..when I would inform staff the patient was threatening to leave (after triage)and before being seen to go to “the other” hospital (even busier and half hr away)because the wait was too long on a busy night… they’d say they’ll be down to hold the door open for them on their way out. :)

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2010/01/how-to-get-rid-of-a-customer/#comment-16356 Anonymous Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:37:47 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=4171#comment-16356 "“Your hospital is not great at all! I am not coming back!”" *Trailing off* Oh no, we don't want you to *leave*, come back....come back. NOT! ““Your hospital is not great at all! I am not coming back!””

*Trailing off* Oh no, we don’t want you to *leave*, come back….come back.

NOT!

]]>