Too sick to wait
Article Abstract:
Many Americans, both within the health care system and in the general population, assume that emergency room care will always be available when needed. However, two articles published in the August 28, 1991 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association indicate that this may not always be the case. A minority of patients walk out of emergency rooms without receiving medical care. Some previous studies have indicated that these are impatient people with only minor complaints. However, the two new studies indicate that the people who leave without receiving medical treatment may be seriously ill people who have been kept waiting for many hours and must now attend to other obligations such as the care of their children. Some even left because they were too ill to wait around. A good deal of the problem results from the large number of Americans who are poor or who have no health insurance. For these people, the emergency room is often the only source of medical care. In recent years, these people have swamped emergency rooms in many large cities, resulting in excessively long waits for everyone. There are efforts to direct walk-in patients away from emergency rooms, and to return the facilities to their intended purpose of providing emergency care. However, such efforts are futile if they do not consider the lack of suitable alternatives for many of the patients who use these facilities. The provision of health care in the United States is deteriorating faster than many assumed possible. The current situation will probably result in further studies, hearings in the legislature, and endless debates. Unfortunately, as is the case for many patients, the health care system itself no longer has any more time to wait. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1991
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Insurance status and access to urgent ambulatory care follow-up appointments
Article Abstract:
A study aimed to determine the association between reported insurance status and access to follow-up appointments for serious conditions that are commonly identified during an emergency department visit. Reported insurance status is found to be associated with access to timely follow-up ambulatory care for potentially serious conditions.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 2005
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