What makes someone in their 20’s think they can just walk into the ER and expect to get an immediate MRI of the ANKLE of all things for a sprain that happened a week ago? Xrays were negative at the other facility and she was referred to an orthopaedist, who of course she did not follow up with. She just figured she need a more expensive, fancier test.
Even more baffling is the expression of dismay on her face when we say such a thing is, A. Not possible, B. Not indicated, C. A waste of resources, and D. Would only be asked for by someone who is a total dumb-ass.
Well, maybe we did not say that last thing but I surely wanted to!
Cash in advance, then we’ll use Mr. Fancy expensive camera to take a picture of any boo boo you want us to point it at… I bet they paid for their high school senior pictures, recently enough that they should still remember that you have to pay for optional stuff.
A
Euthanasia, STAT!
Seconding Andrew on this one. If you want to waste money, it better be your own.
I had someone come in and complain of knee pain. It sounded like a possible chronic meniscal tear. I said that we will get an x ray. She said that she thought and MRI would be a better choice of radiologic studies. I agreed with her but that she would only get an x ray in the ER to evaluate her knee and would have to see an orthopedic physician if she wanted an MRI of the knee. She then said that she would have to pay to see them and for the MRI. I said that I would have to pay for the same thing if I went to the orthopedic physician and MRI. Now you have to pay me to tell you what you already knew. Have a nice day. By the way, the ER bill costs a lot of money if you actually pay your bill and if you don’t it gets sent to collections.
I second Dr. Grumpy’s order!
And they say the BOOMER generation has entitlement issues!!! (They’re right, but we’re not the only ones.)
An MRI would reveal any damage to the tendons, but is definitely not a reason to come to the ER…