[jimbo123]

I spent 8 hours yesterday getting treatment in a Brooklyn area ER. Approximately 33% of the patients were heart attack and other trauma victims. Another 33% were patients who had other important needs, but weren't priority based on the trauma cases. The remaining 33% were lonely elderly people, hypocondriacs or scammers who wanted free prescription drugs. One of the worst experiences in my life. The staff were good. But the trauma patients took priority of course, and the 33% lonely/hypocondriacs/scammers got in the way of the 33% of us who needed treatment, but weren't trauma cases.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

And it is not just the medical staff that is overloaded because of this either. The hoops the billing staff must jump through for Medicare/Medicaid patients is unbelievable. Because of this office staff almost outnumbers medical staff at many hospitals.

Another reason why medical costs keep rising.

[cryptical]

Last year I went to the emergency room with a mild heart attack. Walked a couple blocks from work, because I didn't want to put anyone to any trouble...

I got to intake, gave them my symptoms, chest pain, sweats, etc. There was a girl in there before me who went ballistic that they took me first, because she had a sore toe. She ended up storming out. I ended up in a cardiac cath lab in less than 10 minutes, getting an angioplasty.

My cost? Not a dime out of pocket. Made all that medical insurance over the years worth it.