Re: My Simple Proposal...

Marianne1 · ‎04-16-2013

On 1/3/2014 Dagna said:
On 1/3/2014 Marianne is said:
Case in point today. We are fortunate to have (and pay for $$$$) very good insurance; however, I called this am for my son who is sick. No answer (snow here). Even if they were there, chances are they would not be able to fit him in (and it is a Friday, so he would have to wait until Monday).

The good news…our insurance also covers Urgent Cares and Minute Clinics, with the same $20 copay as the regular doctor. So, he will be seen today (he is there now, I believe).

The doctors' offices are difficult to get into for "emergency" (non-scheduled) appointments, but he does not need an ER visit--so clinics are great for the stopgap.

And you think it will be easier for all the folks on newly expanded Medicaid to get doctors appointments?

I was responding to the need for Urgent Ctrs and Clinics--

My sister is disabled and uses Medicaid (or care, I never can remember) for herself and her daughter-- she has a lot of medical needs and never ever uses the ER--she uses the system of docs. Transport is not easy for her either, but she can do it. There just has to be a doctor or clinic available and people need to know to use them instead of the ER.

guatmum · ‎03-11-2010

On 1/3/2014 brii said:
A lot of the urgent care clinics don't have ultrasound machines and techs available 24/7 either. If you break your arm or leg, they don't have somebody to cast you. It's not so simple after all...

Broken bones are the kinds of emergencies that I would think would automatically go to the ER.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

On 1/3/2014 Dagna said:
On 1/3/2014 Marianne is said:
Case in point today. We are fortunate to have (and pay for $$$$) very good insurance; however, I called this am for my son who is sick. No answer (snow here). Even if they were there, chances are they would not be able to fit him in (and it is a Friday, so he would have to wait until Monday).

The good news…our insurance also covers Urgent Cares and Minute Clinics, with the same $20 copay as the regular doctor. So, he will be seen today (he is there now, I believe).

The doctors' offices are difficult to get into for "emergency" (non-scheduled) appointments, but he does not need an ER visit--so clinics are great for the stopgap.

And you think it will be easier for all the folks on newly expanded Medicaid to get doctors appointments?

That is why we need more neighborhood clinics.

Here in Buffalo they are popping up all over. They are teaming with radiologist businesses and labs too.

I have a client who provides radiology equipment and reading for doctor's offices and clinics. I had no idea this was such a growing field. They have 3 stand alone radiology centers, but also provide equipment for over a dozen other MD offices or clinics.

tansy · ‎01-02-2011

On 1/3/2014 guatmum said:
On 1/3/2014 brii said:
A lot of the urgent care clinics don't have ultrasound machines and techs available 24/7 either. If you break your arm or leg, they don't have somebody to cast you. It's not so simple after all...

Broken bones are the kinds of emergencies that I would think would automatically go to the ER.

When I broke my arm, we certainly went straight to the ER.

foundinlv · ‎04-20-2012

On 1/3/2014 terrier2 said:
On 1/3/2014 ~foundinlv~ said:
terrier....there's a new urgent care clinic that popped open about 6 months ago in a shopping center a couple miles from us and one Fri afternoon my husband went there complaining of lower back pain on both sides and so he was given an urinalysis. The PA used a test strip as they don't have a lab on the premises and was told it was positive for a UTI. He wrote my husband a Rx for Cipro who got it filled that day and started taking them, 2 per day. On Monday, the lab results showed he was actually negative for a UTI. The PA contacted him and told him it was negative but it was my husband who mentioned the Cipro. The PA said, oh yes, stop taking it. Not a good experience.

That is why my proposal calls for clinics WITH labs and pharmacies on the premises.

There are labs all over the place now...how much more efficient would it be if they shared rent with the clinics??? and had small Walgreens or other pharmacies within the facility too?

You're right. Not only was the test strip wrong but if my husband really had a UTI it would stand to reason that I would too. I knew that I didn't and told my husband that when he came home with the Cipro.

pinkskates4 · ‎03-10-2010

On 1/3/2014 brii said:
A lot of the urgent care clinics don't have ultrasound machines and techs available 24/7 either. If you break your arm or leg, they don't have somebody to cast you. It's not so simple after all...

Good grief. If you break your leg, go to the ER. But that is not the typical issue we are discussing.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

On 1/3/2014 guatmum said:
On 1/3/2014 brii said:
A lot of the urgent care clinics don't have ultrasound machines and techs available 24/7 either. If you break your arm or leg, they don't have somebody to cast you. It's not so simple after all...

Broken bones are the kinds of emergencies that I would think would automatically go to the ER.

More and more clinics are now teaming up with radiology businesses to provide services in one location.

Of course it won't work for every ailment...but would help a lot for sore throats and other simple fixes.

redtabby · ‎03-10-2010

Urgent Care can sometimes be an option, here none of the urgent cares are open after 7pm or on Sundays. My husband had food poisoning and we ended up at the ER anyways, no urgent cares were open.

nun ya · ‎03-09-2010

On 1/3/2014 terrier2 said:
On 1/3/2014 guatmum said:
On 1/3/2014 brii said:
A lot of the urgent care clinics don't have ultrasound machines and techs available 24/7 either. If you break your arm or leg, they don't have somebody to cast you. It's not so simple after all...

Broken bones are the kinds of emergencies that I would think would automatically go to the ER.

More and more clinics are now teaming up with radiology businesses to provide services in one location.

Of course it won't work for every ailment...but would help a lot for sore throats and other simple fixes.

I went to urgent Care with a very bad ankle sprain. They did the x ray and sent it online to their hospital, results were back in 10 minutes. After my co pay, My total bill was less than 200 which included crutches. Far less than the ER.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

I fell flat on my face several years ago. My front teeth went thru my face.

I called my cousin, the PA. It was a Sunday during the annual St. Patrick's Day parade.

We went to the ER, because the closest immediate care center was also near the parade (LOTS of drunks!). Her friend was working there that day and said no one that specializes in sutures was on duty then.

I got 7 stitches and a dose of my blood clotting medicine (Stimate). Total tab - $6,500.

The Stimate costs $850 at the drug store - $2500 at the hospital.

My dentist saw me the next morning and didn't charge at all...what a guy!