Emergency Medicine

Although emergency care is necessary, the system is definitely being abused by too many people. The number 9-1-1 is not just for emergencies anymore, but may also present the idea that maybe we can get free medical care without having to see a primary care doctor and pay a co-pay. This mindset is common, but if one stops to think is it really worth it to pay $10,000 per night if one ends up getting admitted to the hospital? What about all of those real emergencies that we do not have enough ambulances to respond to? It is selfish for people to use and abuse our health care system. I can see that although it is wrong for people to do this, these are definite consequences of the current state of the health care system.

Within the Emergency room itself, there is the issue of overcrowding. Doctors provide care to thousands of people especially to those who are uninsured and have a lower socioeconomic status. People cannot afford insurance and cannot afford to see a health care provider and thus, wait until they are in dire need of medical attention to even go to the hospital. Doctors who work in the Emergency room are faced with these new challenges day in and day out. I am impressed by the obstacles they overcome outside of the clinical cases that they see. These obstacles can be anything from a language barrier to financial issues and not being able to pay without insurance. It is in the ER that many of America's health care issues surface and are brought to light. These are complex topics that I hope with the health care reforms will be addressed.