We asked you about longer wait times in San Diego's Emergency Rooms.
Wait until you see Universal Health Care!!!!! This will seem like a walk in the park!!! Wise up people! - Brian, Solana Beach
What's the point in having insurance? Why pay a co-pay, when I could claim no insurance and have the same wait time as those who don't have insurance? - Brian, San Diego
Great story. Very balanced. This news was excellent, and just a year ago our governor was presenting health care reform and is now planning to cut $1.5 billion in Medi-Cal funding. How will that impact ER overcrowding, wait times and access for primary and emergency medical care to San Diego residents? - Robert, San Diego
It is pure fantasy to hope that "uninsured patients" without serious emergencies will show consideration for others by going to medical clinics instead of ERs. And let's not beat around the bush about who the vast majority of "uninsured patients" are. Long ER wait times for legal citizens represent yet another very real cost of illegal immigration. - Lawrence, San Marcos
Some patients are abusing the system, making ER, their personal clinic, impacting & crowding the ER, they should be asked to pay 50% of the cost, so they will think it over 100x to go to ER with non-emergency condition. Non-urgent patients should wait longer compared to the ones who really need to be treated immediately. - Anonymous
I believe the answer to the over-crowding at the Emergency Rooms is to have the Urgent Care centers open past 11:00 p.m. If Urgent Care Centers were staffed 24/7, people who need "urgent" care but do not have a "true emergency" could be seen there. It is ridiculous that Urgent Care is only open during the day when physician's office are, or should be, available. I had my wound break open after the stitches were removed and was forced to go the the ER rather than Urgent Care because ALL the Urgent Care Centers were closed after 11:00 p.m. at a time when they are most needed. THAT IS THE ANSWER. IT IS A NO BRAINER. - Patti, San Diego
I think it would be in the best interest of the hospitals to open a small room as a clinic, treating those with minor issues. They are, after all, going to come to the ER anyway. This would leave the ER Doctors for those patients in dire need. - Nanci, Santee
I believe the public should be educated exactly what the word "emergency" means. Too many times, waiting for hours & hours I have witnessed patients entering with urgent care or next day Dr visit. Lastly, I have worked many years and currently rely on county services for my health issues. I have shared many stories with a variety of people young & old. Remember the end of the movie "The Bucket List?" If only Morgan Freeman had been treated better, with more money he would have spent more time with his precious family. Makes you wonder, is it all about money? I pray for our children. - Katherine, Chula Vista
If you want a real life example of the wait times, listen to the radio communications between paramedics and the base hospitals. The medics have to constantly switch channels locating a base hospital to accept their calls. The base hospital has to then verify the "vacancy" of the closest hospital...all taking precious time. The homeless use medics like a taxicab service. Hours long waits are the norm at most ER's. - Laine, Mira Mesa
We spend far more on healthcare than any other country in the world yet our access to quality care and our health outcomes continue to deteriorate. We have allowed the fat health insurance companies to profit by rationing care and controlling reimbursement too long. You can expect access to care and ER waits to continue deteriorating as our shortage of quality primary care doctors worsens. The only people receiving true quality care and access today are those who have a direct financial arrangement with their doctors via a concierge or fee based relationship. - Patrick (MD), Coronado
