Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Co. reveals their "Hot Light" in the late 1930s, and now in 2010, hospital Emergency Departments are capitalizing by using the same concept.
Earlier this month, I saw a billboard that said you could check online to see wait times for the Emergency Department (ED). I wondered if this was provided by a smartphone application. After further research, I learned that you can access the information by text message. So I asked myself "is it realistic to cater to the misuse of the ED to make money?"... Or take the route of making money while disciplining people financially by charging for triage, when in many cases the patient leaves before receiving full services. While triage is a necessary process mandated by HIPAA, businesses can't afford to expend resources for free.
Technological advancements coupled with the significant percent of the population that does not understand hospital operations may keep the doors wide open for this revenue generating tactic. SO LETS DO THE MATH... % of ED visits that become inpatient stays x (times) number of ED visits per unit of time measured - (minus) uncompensated care x (times) percentage of state compensation. You get the point...
In summary, while I do not agree with encouraging people to continue using the ED inappropriately for unscheduled, on the spot healthcare services when their condition does not warrant ED services, I understand that hospitals need strategies to survive. I realize that it is important to acknowledge your clientele, surrounding population, and streams of revenue to determine what works best for your organization.
Sidenote to the video: The wait times listed on the billboards actually give you the amount of time one would wait before being seen by a provider (i.e. nurse practitioner) to evaluate your condition. Wait time to see a physician and wait time to received needed services are entirely different concepts.
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