ER misuse

[Guest guest]

Has anybody ever fired a patient for ER misuse?

I just got a faxed ER note. Married couple, 30-something.

Both morbidly obese with elevated BPs and glucose intolerance who fail follow

my recommendations, but then decide (without calling me at all) to be seen in

theERfor very trivial complaints (URI -- basically a common cold from the

notes, although the ER got the benefit of doing labs and CXRs on both).

And this is the second time in 4 months that they have done this.

I am inclined to dismiss them on principle…even with the specter

of P4P, their behavior is socially reprehensible and just pisses me off (‘scuse

my French). I have never dismissed

anyone for anything other than drug-seeking, abusive behavior, or owing me more

than $200 for more than a year, but these two just have my blood boiling.

And it’s not like I don’t offer access…I’m

on my way to the office now (8:20 on Saturday night) because a healthy 55 yr

old lady just called and told me she has been sick for 2 days but decided RIGHT

NOW that she has to be seen and if I don’t want to come in, she will go

to the ER.

ARRRRGGGGHHHHH! And it’s 8 degrees out there…

Annie