Walmart ER! I can't WAIT to hurt myself!

A big reason why people abuse the ER when they don't have an emergency is that they do not have insurance or an ability to pay out of pocket. So, like Daihashi said, they cannot be turned away or forced to pay at the ER, and they end up going there for minor injuries or illnesses that are not emergencies because they won't be seen at all anywhere else.

Unless the clinic-in-every-Walmart plan solves the problem of being able to PAY for the care, it won't solve the ER abuse problem. Universal healthcare coverage will solve that problem by removing the economic need to use the ER for non-emergencies.

ER abuse is just another way in which we all pay for a healthcare system that leaves out millions of people. Even if it cost us all more in taxes to have universal coverage, we would all see some benefit in not having our ERs clogged with non-emergency cases who are only there because they cannot pay, and we would all see some benefit in not having those people's ER costs added to our bills to cover their non-payment. Getting everyone who is currenlty uninsured into a system where they can get preventative care, and the costs of their non-payment do not get distributed to everyone else, and there are not unnecessary ER visits is going to save a lot of money an inefficiency in the long run.

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Originally Posted by dragonrider

A big reason why people abuse the ER when they don't have an emergency is that they do not have insurance or an ability to pay out of pocket. So, like Daihashi said, they cannot be turned away or forced to pay at the ER, and they end up going there for minor injuries or illnesses that are not emergencies because they won't be seen at all anywhere else.

Unless the clinic-in-every-Walmart plan solves the problem of being able to PAY for the care, it won't solve the ER abuse problem. Universal healthcare coverage will solve that problem by removing the economic need to use the ER for non-emergencies.

ER abuse is just another way in which we all pay for a healthcare system that leaves out millions of people. Even if it cost us all more in taxes to have universal coverage, we would all see some benefit in not having our ERs clogged with non-emergency cases who are only there because they cannot pay, and we would all see some benefit in not having those people's ER costs added to our bills to cover their non-payment. Getting everyone who is currenlty uninsured into a system where they can get preventative care, and the costs of their non-payment do not get distributed to everyone else, and there are not unnecessary ER visits is going to save a lot of money an inefficiency in the long run.

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The ready clinic here in town is very cheap and even offers some free services.

People could save a lot of money by going to these clinics and taking advantage of some of the free services they do offer. Personally I go out of convenience more than for fiscal reasons. HEB's are everywhere in town (using personal example from the city where I live).

While I recognize that some people genuinely can't afford asthma medicine for themselves or their loved ones.. I find it hard to believe that the majority of people that go to the emergency room can't afford some of the more simple things like that. I say I find it hard to believe because I grew up in an extremely low income family, in a poor area of town and we made sure that we could set aside some money to get some very basic things done at the free clinic (there are a few) or go to see a private physician who had good prices (people need to shop around for a doctor as well).

Again, I do acknowledge that there are people who genuinely can't afford these services and i am in no way demeaning them or disregarding their needs but fact remains that there are a good portion of people that abuse the system simply because they can.

I like Walmart.

I worked at Walmart. They treated me very well.

I know many people who have worked at Walmart who have been treated very well.

I (heart) capitalism.

Daihashi's #17 post was pretty much everything I was thinking.

For a little experiment, bring a foreign friend to Costco, Sams if you have to. Start at the cheap ass food place to blow their mind. Explain to them that they get two slices of pizza hut equivilant (imho) pizza plus a drink for $2.50.

Please oh please tell me you don't really think PizzaHut makes good pizza!!!:420thought:

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Originally Posted by DTRave420

Please oh please tell me you don't really think PizzaHut makes good pizza!!!:420thought:

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Oh no, thats not what i was saying.

You get two gigantic slices and a large drink for $2.50! Or you can buy the whole pizza for $7.00. Or a .75L of Patron for $38.50:jointsmile:

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Originally Posted by GoldenBoy812

Oh no, thats not what i was saying.

You get two gigantic slices and a large drink for $2.50! Or you can buy the whole pizza for $7.00. Or a .75L of Patron for $38.50:jointsmile:

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Well OK,That sounds like a good deal...Just don't you dare enjoy it,lol!!!

PEACE GoldenBoy:420thought:

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Originally Posted by GoldenBoy812

Oh no, thats not what i was saying.

You get two gigantic slices and a large drink for $2.50! Or you can buy the whole pizza for $7.00. Or a .75L of Patron for $38.50:jointsmile:

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A whole pizza and a bottle of Patron is s pretty good night for under $50.

No way in hell would I visit a walmart doctor. I mean I HATE going to walmart for anything and try to avoid it at all costs. When I do go there, inevitably something happens that makes me say: "FUCK I HATE WALMART!"

Another thing people fail to realize is that if a clinic were to open in a Walmart or any other large department store; it would not be walmart owned or walmart run.

Walmart does not own the Mcdonalds inside their stores, nor do they own the photographers shop, nor the eye doctor, hair & nail salon, banking center, or any other business you may see up at the front of the store.

All these places rent space from Walmart; that is the limit of their affiliation with Walmart.

Instead of getting up in arms at something you believe to sound ludicrous; take a step back.. think for a second.. take the name Walmart out of the picture; and remember this is for minor needs only. Everyone here is being judgemental just because of the company that was mentioned but fact is that it could be any large department store and even if this isn't advocated for by a group there's a large chance that many stores will start incorporating these minor needs clinics.

As I said before; we have Ready Clinics being implemented at a Grocery Store chain here in Texas (HEB) and they are great for the purpose they serve. No lines, no expensive fee's and best of all you can go do your grocery shopping when you're done :thumbsup:

For a demographic of people (cannabis users) who claim to be fairly open minded everyone in this thread for the most part seems closed minded. Guess what, this is America and you can choose to not go there even if you decide to be bias without trying it out first. That's the beauty of this country; freedom of choice. :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by daihashi

Honestly I think the majority of people in this thread are missing the point due to the fact that he named Walmart disregarding the fact that he said any other large place (meaning where people gather).

Emergency room healthcare is one of the most widely abused systems in the healthcare industry, simply because it is illegal for a hospital to not see you regardless of why you are there.

Have a migraine.. go to the emergency room they'll fix you up with some aspirin right away and can't force you to pay. Sprained your ankle.. Emergency room coming right up; forget about the guy with the knife sticking out his side or the poor kid just just broke 30% of the bones in his body due to a horrific car crash. They'll fix you right up.

Point is this; when people need emergency healthcare there is a long wait for it and an expensive fee; both directly related to the abuse of the system. I know first hand as I deal with a number of people with debilitating diseases that truly need emergency healthcare at times and have to wait upwards of 6-12 hours to be seen.

In addition to this it wastes hospital resources which if you've been to any emergency room you can attest that they seem to be short on said resources (again due to abuse of the system).

Where I live we are starting to put small "Ready" clinics inside of HEB. There you can be seen by a nurse or physician to see you for SMALL issues;

Also the video is way out of context

Here is the full video in it's entirety which makes the proposal of a clinic inside walmart much less loony sounding:

YouTube - John McCain on Health Care and Wal-Mart Clinics

Come on, you're all smart people here. Surely people can put 2+2 together and not jump on the bashing bandwagon when the video was obviously clipped to make him sound like a lunatic. Even in the original posted video you'll notice he says "if you have a cold". Not "if you're 5 seconds near death".

I have a number of friends that use the Ready Clinics here in town and they are great for the purpose that they serve.

I'm sure someone will bash me.. go for it.

I won't deny that McCain is stumbling over his words and sounds a little dumb, but I can connect the dots to see where he was going.

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ER systems are "abused" because people have trouble seeing a doctor on time. There are many people who have serious diseases that must see someone right away if they are exhibiting certain symptoms. It's hard to quantify abuse. Sure they are those cases where someone goes in for a headache with no pre-existing conditions or a sprained ankle which is why these clinics would be good. But those are few and far inbetween what most go to the ER. Most of the time, nothing is found, but that does mean it's abuse? I'm sure you know first hand what I speak of. It's not like these visits are free, I still get statements from emergency room visits 2 years ago!

Point being is efforts like this from the private industry are needed to in order to bring health care costs down. People need options when it comes to health care in order to lessen the burden on hospitals.