Opus 2013-16: First: Mother, Please, I’d Rather Do It Myself

I ended up in the Emergency Room at 2:15 A. M. Thursday morning.  That in itself isn’t worth a post but I thought in light of statements about health care in America my experience could as least be an example.  My title comes from the fact that this was the first time I did this in the middle of the night with no backup.  My wife is out of town and I would never call a friend at 2:00 A.M.

When I arrived I could see inside and there were few people waiting.  “Good timing,” I told myself.  Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.  I checked in and proceeded to wait.  As 4:15 rolled past and little movement was going on I asked some people who were there before me what time they had arrived.  They said around midnight.  This did not look good. 

I later found out that the entire emergency room was full, all 22 beds.  It was mostly with people who had flu symptoms.  If I had flu symptoms I would not be in an emergency ward.  I would have time to call my doctor or go to a urgent care center so my guess is that most of those filling the beds were people with no insurance who use the ER as their GP.  I could be wrong but experience tells me I am not.  I know that I seemed to be the only person in the waiting room without tattoos. 

I also keep hearing about how the poor can’t get care.  Really?  No one asked me about how I would pay when I was screened.  No one asked me if I had insurance when I was assigned a room (after 3 hours).  No one mentioned money when a nurse came in and asked me questions again.  Finally a lady came in and checked my ID, put on a name bracelet and asked for my insurance card.  I don’t think I would have been asked to leave if I didn’t have one. 

The doctor was young but competent.  You know how some young professionals can be either dull or arrogant.  He was one who gave the right impression, asked the right questions and checked the right body parts.  When we were wrapping up he said he could arrange a CT scan if I wanted it.

It was not until they gave me my final paperwork that I was told there was a fifty dollar co-pay.  What would they have done if I didn’t have any money, take back the diagnosis?  At that point I could have just walked out.

Five hours later I was on my way home.  It took a long time but I honestly don’t think I would have received any better or worse care if I had no insurance. 

It is not a proof that health care is available for all, but it is what I see and experienced.

This week.

homo unius libri