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jakesj t1_ixb773l wrote

This may seem odd give the unfortunate circumstances here. Tort reform.

Having worked as an er nurse I know that through-put is complicated. Some things you have to consider are obvious:

  1. Not enough staff: nurses, doctors, techs, radiology support.

  2. No inpatient beds: the doctor has ordered the patient be admitted for treatment, though the hospital has no beds available—possibly physically occupied or no staff to work them.

  3. Shotgun workups: due to no tort reforms (the doc doesn’t want to get sued for missing something). So the provider may feel more inclined to order likely unnecessary and burdensome labs, imaging, and other tests (all the tests have so many compounding time wasting variables, think about backlog for imaging, labs, transporters, staff to carry out lab draws, etc). Yes! The provider shouldn’t act with negligence and should know their stuff! But the fact medical malpractice insurance costs a fortune, and they have to protect themselves and their livelihood. Tort reform would help ease the fear of lawsuits.

  4. No primary care: patients that don’t need life saving treatment visit the ER for seasonal cough and cold, stomach aches, etc. The law (EMTALA) requires the ER sees the patient and provides care.

  5. Psych patients and drugs: no treatment facilities, patients backlog in the ER and don’t receive any treatment that will ultimately help them get well while they wait hours to days (sometimes sedated or strapped down) for the right treatment.

Side rant on this one: you think safe injection sites enable? This is where they help! They pass out clean needles (preventing infection and abscesses that result in er visits for treatment and usually discharge). Added benefit for having connection to social services and getting patients the right care (maybe not every patient, or the first time, but some do end up seeking treatment).

I’m probably missing something. But I feel a big one is tort reform. If providers didn’t feel obligated to order every test under the sun to avoid a lawsuit they wouldn’t.

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