ER Utilization and Plasma TVs
Let's imagine that 60 inch plasma screen TVs were freely distributed to certain members of the population, specifically those who earned less than the federal poverty level and therefore qualified for government assistance in obtaining TVs. Everyone's entitled to a ginormous plasma screen TV aren't they? Well, they should be. This is America, dammit.
Assuming such a scenario was implemented, these unfortunate folks might just come in every other week to get a new one. Why not? They are free, right? Might as well have two in each room. One on each wall, even. There is no limit to the generosity of the American people when it comes to redistributing the labor and wealth of others to the less fortunate. Heck, we'll even load it into the Escalade for them.
Everyone else could buy plasma TV insurance, so that when their current TV stopped working, they could get their next one at a discount (but they still had to pay a rather large copay and deductible). These people, who worked for a living, might just do without a plasma TV for a while, settling perhaps for watching their old (but adequate) tube TV. Even if they did go buy a new one, they probably would be satisfied with just one or two, because they would have to pay a substantial amount of money each time they visited Circuit City.
Now let's say that a federal law required Circuit City to give away plasma screen TVs free of charge to anyone who showed up in the store requesting one, regardless of their ability or inclination to pay for it and regardless of their plasma TV insurance status. Some of these folks would try to pay for their TV anyway, because they are honorable people, but many more would just ignore the bills and stock up on TVs at the expense of the company.
I suggest that if we were to create a plasma screen TV utilization chart, it would look strikingly similar to the CDC ED Utilization Chart.
Imagine that. Human nature is what it is.
Will the working class eventually get tired of subsidizing plasma screen TVs for the less fortunate? Will Circuit City eventually close down? Will the government effectively restrict the production of plasma TVs altogether so that everyone can have a smaller, less technologically-advanced TV? Stay tuned (on your 60 inch plasma).
I'll be watching on my old 36 inch tube TV. As long as it works, that is.
Assuming such a scenario was implemented, these unfortunate folks might just come in every other week to get a new one. Why not? They are free, right? Might as well have two in each room. One on each wall, even. There is no limit to the generosity of the American people when it comes to redistributing the labor and wealth of others to the less fortunate. Heck, we'll even load it into the Escalade for them.
Everyone else could buy plasma TV insurance, so that when their current TV stopped working, they could get their next one at a discount (but they still had to pay a rather large copay and deductible). These people, who worked for a living, might just do without a plasma TV for a while, settling perhaps for watching their old (but adequate) tube TV. Even if they did go buy a new one, they probably would be satisfied with just one or two, because they would have to pay a substantial amount of money each time they visited Circuit City.
Now let's say that a federal law required Circuit City to give away plasma screen TVs free of charge to anyone who showed up in the store requesting one, regardless of their ability or inclination to pay for it and regardless of their plasma TV insurance status. Some of these folks would try to pay for their TV anyway, because they are honorable people, but many more would just ignore the bills and stock up on TVs at the expense of the company.
I suggest that if we were to create a plasma screen TV utilization chart, it would look strikingly similar to the CDC ED Utilization Chart.
Imagine that. Human nature is what it is.
Will the working class eventually get tired of subsidizing plasma screen TVs for the less fortunate? Will Circuit City eventually close down? Will the government effectively restrict the production of plasma TVs altogether so that everyone can have a smaller, less technologically-advanced TV? Stay tuned (on your 60 inch plasma).
I'll be watching on my old 36 inch tube TV. As long as it works, that is.
posted by scalpel at 8:38 AM
21 Comments:
IIRC, wasn't there some proposal to do what your analogy describes?
That is, to subsidize HDTVs to those who would not be otherwise able to afford HDTVs when the signals are changed? (Perhaps not plasma, but HD ready).
Because, apparently TV is a necessity. And it would be unfair to those in lower economic strata to go without having a TV just because they couldn't afford the new technology.
Plasma? Just wait until they have to have the latest 1080-p screens - after all, it's their right! ;)
Nice post-
Well according to Michael Moore, Cuba is such a wonderful paradise that ALL its citizens get free brand new TVs any time they want...
It's really about law enforcement.
It's illegal everywhere to call 911 in non-emergencies. It's illegal not to pay your bills.
Put the abusers of medical services in jail.
Scalpel---you are so cool.
I was recently in the hospital for gallbladder surgery. I was shocked, SHOCKED that almost all of the rooms had flat screen plasma TV's in them. The ER room I was in had one (as well as wifi), however I was in too much pain to even care.
When I went up to the floor all the single and double rooms had flat screens...WTF?? No wonder the hospital billed my insurance a lot of dough.
I think the plan is to hire someone to distribute the TVs. They have everyone fill out forms, leave the packaging in the ER, charge for a warranty which is only good for a week and excludes situations that make the screen go blank. As I understand it, they get five hundred bucks per TV.
Those TV's in the ER might have been LCD screens. Those are coming down in price, especially in bulk, and they use a TON less electricity than a CRT.
They ARE more delicate, which would be a concern in an ER, but that's one explanation.
I drive people to the ER--and my shift is on the weekend--so I don't need to be shown the CDC's chart. I coulda' told 'em that.
;)
Talk about a visual - great analogy!
Also, I found the article you linked to "What's up Doc?" to be interesting and so linked it and your blog to my post. I hope that is alright and if not - I will remove it. :)
Hey, that's just like how everybody deserves to live in an upscale area. Doesn't matter if you can't afford it. You make enough noise, and the city if forced to build affordable housing. We pay for it in our taxes, because, after all, they deserve it. Thank God for government. Without them, I have no idea what I'd do with all that extra money they take from me.
Admitedly a novice here, but wouldn't those people who worked for a living have to pay a higher, and increasingly, gigantically, astronomically higher price for their plasma TV insurance to cover the cost of the steadily increasing number of certain members of the population who don't receive government assistance but show up anyway in our nation's Circuit City establishments?
Maybe even causing those who work for a living to cease being able to afford plasma TV insurance altogether and join the millions of certain members of the population who just show up anyway?
Yes.
doc,
don't know if you saw my colleague's post that synchs well with your post...
http://docsontheweb.blogspot.com/2007/07/revolution.html
cheers.
I worry about this dumping on the Medicaid population. Dh and I used to be a typical American family. Sine DH was self-employed, we purchased out own insurance. Then we became pregnant with twins. The twins were born 15 weeks early and due to the medical procedures to "save their lives," both are disabled. One multiply so. We then had a daughter, born full term and nuero typical. But, since we didn’t want to “sponge” off the system we thought it might be a good idea to have another child so we would have support system for the disabled ones. Well, it was twins again, one with congenital renal failure, the other cognitively impaired. Then DH became disabled. Who knew the rheumatoid arthritis would cripple him so fast. So, here I sit, trying to take care of 5 disabled people with only my 8-year-old daughter to help. A job? Hah, I had jobs. The minute they find out about my family situation I’m on the short list. It was really annoying since I never once took a day off for my children. Never left early for an appointment or school conference or anything. Four of my five children will be on Medicaid for the rest of their lives. It seems unfair to denigrate them or offer them less than adequate care when for two of them it is a direct result of medical care that they are disabled. The other two did ask to have renal failure or be born cognitively impaired. None of this runs in the family. Oh, yeah, and I have NO insurance. There are no programs for caregivers to the disabled. Unless I took in a foster child, then I might be able to get Medicaid for myself. I’ll take what Cuba or Canada has any day.
anonymous
Not to be crass, but it is a miracle that your 25 week gestation twins are alive at all. 20 years ago they would have died. My wife has worked in NICU's as a physician, and nearly 100% of 25 wkers have disabilities, usually multiple. It is the rare ones that don't. I guess John Edwards got you to sue the docs, eh. I'm sorry for your plight, and you do deserve help, but your example doesn't excuse the abuses to the system that occur on a daily basis. And stop watching that fatass Michael Moore and his Sicko crap. He doesn't tell you about the lady in Ontario dying after waiting 4 MONTHS for a coronary bypass, or the wonderful Cubans living in horrible conditions with barely enough govt subsidized food to eat, but boy do they ever have free health care.
I will also be watching on my 17 inch black and white, happily.
I will also be watching on my 17 inch black and white, happily.
Amen, brother!
What about the people that can't afford the power for their HDTV's? And the ones that don't have a place to hang them. They still deserve them. How are we going to help them too?!?!
It isn't only in the ED that people abuse a system that is free. If they had to pay a small co-pay they would think a little harder about how necessary it is. Abusers come in all colors, nationalities, races, and religions.
I chose the 60 inch plasma TV as a unit of measure because I figured that is about the same cost as a typical ER visit for chest or abdominal pain.
Didn't we see this happen when Hurricane Katrina hit Nawlins? I swear I saw some of the less fortunate walking around with 60" plasma TV's in shopping carts.
Maybe anonymous should move to Cuba or Canada? A plane ticket for her and her 5 dependents would probably cost less in the short run (not to mention the long run) -
Of course, that's not the point. Anonymous obviously needs help and is and should be entitled to it. It's the people who really don't need the help and take it anyway because it is free that are causing the problems.
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