ECM.HOSPITAL

Wow! That was informative!

How about providing some specific details to back up those accusations?

Try Shoals also. Went there Xmas day, was in and out in 45min's. 20 of which were waiting to see if the shot i received gave me some type reaction. Very well pleased with the service and the staff.

This is odd because everyone I have heard from who has used ECM recently bragged on all aspects of their treatment. 

hg> most of the Shoals ER staff are former long-timers (Drs, nurses, and other employees) of ECM ER. they just took their skills and moved across the river

Interesting since Shoals and ECM are run by the same folks.....

Related  to ER topic.  I am convinced I have the best primary care physician in the world.  I have been going to him for at least 25 years.  Last Saturday I called with a problem which could not last until Monday.  He had taken some time off(I am sure he is swamped with  flu patients, etc.) and deserved  some down time.  His service informed me that another Sheffield Dr. was covering for him.  I asked to speak with her.  The answer was that she was sending everyone to the ER.  I am at a prime age for being a flu victim.  I am on Medicare.  The ER visit would have cost  around $1000(not me) and I would have been exposed to viruses and coughed on all afternoon..  I was not allowed to even talk to the cover person.  Being a friend, I called my regular Dr.'s wife who found him.  He called me less than 30 min. later, called the pharmacy and my problem was solved.  The covering Dr. was all ready to waste taxpayers 'money without even a consultation. Or send someone- perhaps with no funds to the ER in which case we would have all paid..  Her name will be furnished by PM request.  Why is medicare broke?  I know now that there was an utter disregard for patient care or taxpayer expense by this person.

I have thought for a long time that hospitals should run walk in clinics. I know there is a degree of liability associated therin, but on week-ends, and for those who don't have a primary doctor, something other than the ER , it seems to me, would be more cost effective and better for all concerned.

Just my 2c worth.

where would Lance go?

I hope you insisted that your primary care doc bill you for the phone consult/prescription call. Since Medicare reimbursement is so low he probably needs the money. As you said he needed some down time and you took away from that whether it was for a min or an hour.You could have gone to an Urgent Care Center or utilized the fast track feature that ECM and Keller both use. If you refer anyone to him be sure to also give them his wifes phone number so they can also end run like you.  

Both ECM and Keller utilize fast tracks as part of their ER. The fast track is for low acuity problems and for all intents and purposes is a walk in clinic. Urgent Care centers also function as walk in clinics. These allow the ER to concentrate on true emegencies.

My problems are more with the entitlement people using the emergency rooms as free clinics.  They clog the system up so much that the people with real health problems sit and sit, sit and sit.

Rather than spending a Saturday night sitting and sitting, it would be worth an entitlement person paying $60 out of pocket to go to a regular doctor during regular working hours.  Then they'd have their Saturday night to do whatever they do on Saturday nights--rather than spend it outside ECM smoking.

My mother was in congestive heart failure for the last 16 years of her life.  To get her through the emergency room and into treatment, we had to quit driving her to the hospital.  She would act that she was dying and call an ambulance to haul her in.  Someone shouldn't have to learn how to act at age 75 to be seen by an emergency room.   A big reason for her acting was the entitlement people clogging up the emergency room.

Now as far as the Emergency Room physicians.  They're independent contractors and don't even work for the hospital.  You'll get one bill from the hospital for the facilities.  Then, you'll get a second billing from some company in a far away city for the physican's services.  Minor complaints, like time sitting in the waiting room?  Save your breath.

And under O'Bamacare, don't  look for improvements.  With Baby Boomer doctors will be retiring due to low Medicare/Medicaid paybacks, and hundreds of thousands of 'newly insured' Alabama patients will make it double tough getting into a doctor's office.  And to think those entitlement people were the ones that re-elected O'Bama.  It's pretty frightening.

Who are the entitlement people, what makes a person entitled? What income makes a entitlement person?

I (taxpayers) were prepaed to pay the physician who was cavering for my Dr.  Unfortunately she does not do what she is hired to do,  As to paying the long time physician and friend, I tried to pay him for phone calls when my husband was dying.  His answer was that he had never charged and-never would- for a patient6 phone call.  My points that I did not need the ER were missed.  Also, the dereliction of duty by "cover person" was ignored.    Please stop griping about Medicare if you support the ER approach for people instead of a physician ,again, doing what  she contracted with your regular PC. to do.  JJ, you just qualified for a medical license!