"Urgent Care" Patients

I have really enjoyed getting to know all the doctors and nurses in the urgent care/emergency department these past few weeks. Something I found interesting was the universal-type health care provided for people on the island. On a slow afternoon in urgent care, the doctor I was with finally received a patient file- the first one in literally an hour. After about twenty minutes, I asked why he wouldn’t call the patient in. He replied that because health care was free for everyone, many people came in with very petty cases, such as muscle cramping or a cough. By making people wait an excessive amount of time in the waiting area, those who had serious medical problems would stay to see a doctor and those who had come in “just because” would leave. After he told me this, I began to realize that the majority of people who came in had very minor problems. Most of these patients did not even have to have anything prescribed to them- simply bed rest, fluids, etc. Because of this, I realize why many of the doctors and nurses often look frustrated with some of the “urgent care” patients.