Posted on 05/24/2020 10:20:00 AM PDT by Mariner
The coronavirus pandemic vacated streets, shopping malls and movie theaters as millions of people stayed sheltered in their homes.
Unless they had a fever or other COVID-19 like symptoms, many also stayed away from hospital emergency departments in Stanislaus County and other parts of California and the nation with potentially serious consequences for their health, according to data reported by hospitals.
Physicians suggest that one byproduct of the pandemic are untreated medical problems of people who delayed a visit to the emergency room when they had telltale signs of a heart attack, stroke or another acute illness but were afraid of catching COVID-19 at the hospital.
“People are waiting too long to come in,” said Dr. Donald Zweig, an assistant medical director at Memorial Medical Center in Modesto. “Very few patients are testing positive (for coronavirus) so the chance to catch it is very low.”
Zweig said he normally sees 20 to 30 people in the ER waiting room, but now there might be two or three in the mid-afternoon.
In April, as the coronavirus outbreak peaked in Stanislaus County, emergency room visits were running 150 to 160 per day at Memorial compared with the normal traffic of 230 a day, a director said.
Hospitals across the country have experienced a 30% to 60% drop in people seeking care for common emergencies like heart attack and stroke, according to estimates released by administrators for news reports in many states.
(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...
Your friendly neighborhood ER is OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
The Sutter Health System of NORCAL is losing over $1B per quarter.
“The Sutter Health System of NORCAL is losing over $1B per quarter.”
Wow, that is astounding. I’m with Sutter Health in NORCAL (Bay Area). I wonder how this is going to affect our health care going forward.
There have been tv ads pleaing with folks to us the ER when on my local level.
” I wonder how this is going to affect our health care going forward.”
Less staff, they will tune staffing for average throughput and ignore peaks. And the average is far, far lower now.
They will raise prices...and start a war against insurance companies who have been reaping a windfall.
Capital projects on hold indefinitely.
Oh puh-lease. If the ERs are empty, that tells you how many actual emergencies there were before COVID. Answer? Not very freaking many.
Rosita with her 15 sniffling kids.
If hospitals have built their economic models on the ER they should be ashamed, and I have 0 sympathy.
Tort and insurance reforms are grossly overdue.
“Rosita with her 15 sniffling kids.”
That’s been their bread and butter.
Can you imagine having the signs of a heart attack or stroke and not go to the ER?
Leading to...
* Longer lead times to see your doctor, see a specialist, or get treatment scheduled
* Fewer specialists
Not good.
Illegals have killed may ERs, because they abused it as a Free Clinic.
Even before Wuhan Flu a survey showed appx. 40 percent of physicians nationwide were considering leaving the profession altogether. This is not going to a good place.
My daughter had to go to the local ER for an emergency and the place was deserted. They divided the hospital in halves (with one part for COVID symptoms/patients and the other for other emergencies) Both sides were empty.
Doctors hospital in Modesto ( stanislaus county) one of the highest price hospital in the nation before virus.
“Illegals have killed may ERs, because they abused it as a Free Clinic.”
Here, MediCal reimburses them for exorbitant charges for everything, as most healthcare institutions have a “separate line” for MediCal patients in primary care, taking months to see a doctor.
All poor people use the ER as primary care. And have for the last 30-40 years...at least since the advent of MedicAide. A major portion of them are the children of illegals, and in CA, the illegals themselves. (spit)
It’s been a principal element of their revenues for decades.
“Doctors hospital in Modesto ( stanislaus county) one of the highest price hospital in the nation before virus.”
It’s been a welfare hospital for at least the last 10 years.
“Oh puh-lease. If the ERs are empty, that tells you how many actual emergencies there were before COVID. Answer? Not very freaking many.”
To the contrary. Many stories of people with heart attacks and strokes just not seeking treatment.
Yes but if you have insurance they charge up the ying yang!
“Yes but if you have insurance they charge up the ying yang!”
Yes, and it’s because they are the welfare hospital. They closed the county hospital here and contracted out the work to Doctors Hospital. And those reimbursement rates are very low.
If they find a dying bum at the side of the road, they are taken to Doctors.
The coronavirus pandemic vacated streets, shopping malls and movie theaters as millions of people stayed sheltered in their homes.Meanwhile Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes and hardware stores have never been busier.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff said from day one that he would not enforce a lockdown/shelter in place. a doctor and a nurse have their pics taken out in front of the emergency room, WITHOUT ASKS ON.
“People are waiting too long to come in,” said Dr. Donald Zweig, an assistant medical director at Memorial Medical Center in Modesto. “Very few patients are testing positive (for coronavirus) so the chance to catch it is very low.”
My daughter sells real estate in the Modesto area, she sold 2 houses last month for more than the asking price.
I will say this the care one receives there is top notched
“The Stanislaus County Sheriff said from day one that he would not enforce a lockdown/shelter in place. “
As did every municipal police force in the county.
So did the county and municipal governments.
Nobody has been enforcing anything from the outset in this county. Even the friggin’ mall is open now.
We’ve had just over 600 cases and under 150 hospitalizations. 28 deaths, and 18 of those from one nursing home.
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