| rgency Medicine Review | | | | Another issue in the intensification of Emergency |
| The older the American demographic grows, the | | | | Medicine and Urgent Care incidents in the United |
| need for Emergency and Urgent care also | | | | States is resulting to another socioeconomic group |
| intensifies. The existing healthcare provider deficit | | | | that cannot be ignored. The baby boomers will |
| in the U.S. is expected to degenerate over time. | | | | result in an exorbitant increase of the 65 and |
| Other issues are affecting this shortfall as well, | | | | older demographic. This group statistically requires |
| including the lessening economy and the recent | | | | considerably more assets, personnel, specialists, |
| passed health care reform. | | | | and physician care. They need hospital and |
| General Care Deficit leads to Emergency Medicine | | | | Emergency room services more often than any |
| Physician shortage | | | | other age group. |
| According to a press release by the Medicare | | | | Can Health Care Reform Solve ER problems? |
| Payment Advisory Commission, Emergency | | | | Whether the healthcare reform will crush us or |
| medicine doctors will have loads of work to be | | | | not is neither here nor there. While it has passed |
| had from Medicare, but they may not wish for it. | | | | and been signed into law, the main changes are |
| Medicare has rates that have less desirable fees | | | | not set to go into full effect until 2014. The |
| than private insurance so General Care physicians | | | | repercussions of the current reform may not be |
| are not as likely to take on new Medicare | | | | fully understood for some time after that. Urgent |
| patients. As an end result, up to a third of all | | | | Care facilities overcrowding is a considerable |
| Medicare patients may not be able to find a | | | | problem, given the growing number of elderly |
| Primary Care physician at all and may be turning | | | | patients, uninsured patients, and underinsured |
| to Emergency care care as a last alternative. | | | | patients. If the insurance reform doesn't resolve |
| Some areas are hit harder than others by these | | | | the problems it promises, then the tribulations |
| these figures, such as Arizona. In some areas of | | | | cannot be projected to get better. ER |
| the sandy state, Primary Care doctor-to-citizen | | | | overcrowding is no new concern. What the health |
| ratio is less than 6 doctors per 10k residents, | | | | reform should address is the loss of emergency |
| according to a study by St. Lukes. The result of | | | | room facilities. Between 1993 and 2003, the |
| many more individuals not having access to | | | | continental United States lost over 400 |
| general care will be an intensified use of | | | | Emergency room facilities. What can underinsured |
| Emergency Room and Urgent Care Emergency | | | | patients do? Besides hoping that an ambulance |
| rooms. Naturally, Emergency and Urgent Care | | | | can get them or their loved ones to a nearby |
| physicians are going to have their caseloads full if | | | | Emergency room facility in time, they can't do |
| this trend is not dealt with. | | | | much. In that same time frame, Emergency room |
| Weakened Economy results in Crowded Clinics | | | | visits exponentially increased by over twenty five |
| As the failing economy runs its track; many | | | | percent. Physicians in these situations will |
| people are losing available and affordable health | | | | undeniably have their workload cut out for them. |
| benefits. Insurance policies are being terminated at | | | | Even with the health bill finally signed into law its |
| an rapid rate, and citizens receiving (Consolidated | | | | outcome on our healthcare programs is not |
| Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) coverage are | | | | known. By 2014 their will be an increase in the |
| also running out of options. With the walls closing | | | | induction into health insurance programs. This |
| on reasonably priced healthcare, many individuals | | | | increase when, combined with the long term aging |
| have decided they must do without proper | | | | of the population, should push demand for |
| preventative care. As you might ascertain, when | | | | services and therefore cost higher. However, no |
| the intensity of the condition can no longer be | | | | one yet knows what will happen to |
| ignored with rest and OTC remedies, and starts | | | | reimbursement rates from Medicare and this new |
| to significantly interfere with daily life, the ER may | | | | program. The inquiry is will there be rate a cut of |
| be the only remaining place to turn to. Through | | | | reimbursement rates for different specialties by |
| the stock market crash, the housing bust, and | | | | Medicare and this new program that may |
| record breaking unemployment records, | | | | conversely become a issue decreasing the salary |
| emergency rooms and Urgent Care clinics are | | | | of all specialties including Emergency Medicine & |
| filling up faster than ever. | | | | Urgent Care, and related specialties / |
| Baby Boomers in the ER | | | | subspecialties. |