Q: Why are waits at emergency rooms so long?
A: Because the rest of the healthcare system is failing.
The patient did everything right, but the healthcare system did them so so so wrong.
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They call their PCP, but canāt get an appointment. So they turn to the ER.
They call their specialist, but the call line (automated, no human to respond) says go to the ER.
They try to pick up their new medicine, but itās 3x their monthly rent $ and they already work 3 minimum wage jobsā¦so they turn to the ER to get a dose of medicine.
They try to get their imaging done, but canāt get the prior auth approved. So they come to the ER to get it.
Their employer wonāt let them take a sick day without a work note (and the ER is the only thing open they can get into TODAY).
They need to see their doctor in the clinic, but canāt afford to take time off work to go, much less arrange childcare, and the ER is the only thing open when all those conditions sync up.
They lost their job and now have no insurance and canāt see their doctors anyways. So they come to the ER.
The list goes on and on and onā¦
Healthcare reform is not about healthcare ā itās about economics, corporate greed, lobby dollars, transportation, housing, politics/policy, culture, and moreā¦