When seeking medical attention, many opt for the emergency room even if their situation would be better suited for a primary care physician. Patients that go to the emergency room for aliments such as a cold, sprained ankle, or even to refill prescriptions often impose stress on hospital staff and first responders leading to longer waits for treatment and for ambulance crews.
But it isn't necessarily at the fault of the patient. There are fewer primary care physicians in our area leaving many patients with no other option.
"There is a nationwide shortage of primary care physicians and especially here locally and part of that is the fact that patients can't get into see their primary care physicians so they have nowhere else to turn to except for the ER," said Dr. Brandan Crum, Emergency Physician at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center.
Saint Mary’s says they've seen an increase of 20 percent the last two years in visits to their ER. Doctor Crum also attributes the increase to our area's larger population and more people now have health insurance.
"You don’t always need to tie up an emergency room because sometimes they don't have the best services for you,” said Sark Aerick, a Paramedic Supervisor for REMSA.
They are often called out to non-emergency situations and says there are times when patients need to see a primary care doctor that can familiarize themselves with a patient on a more personal level.
"Sometimes you need the professionalism of a doctor that knows you, knows your body, knows the symptoms, knows if you are getting better or worse."
Many health care providers including Saint Mary’s are opening up primary care centers with new locations on South Virginia and on Robb Drive. Also urgent cares have become a quick resource for people needing to see a doctor for non-emergency situations.
“We have urgent care facilities that are open and we are anticipating to open further and those are resources patients can seek instead of emergency rooms for those primary care needs,” said Dr. Crum.
