Doctors group to U. of C.: Practices close to 'patient dumping'

Didn't the Sun-Times report that Michelle Obama was part of an effort like this in the past -- to send uninsured (read: poor, African-American and Latinos) visitors to the U of C emergency room to area clinics?

Michelle Obama had a hand in this, as I recall. The argument then -- to get the poor to have a primary doc and not use the er -- was said to improve health care. I don't think anyone who knows medicine considered it far removed from dumping.

A person very close to me went to the university of chicago with a broken jaw [when the person was at the hospital they did not know that is what it was] they gave pain killers and said it would be fine, went to another hospital and found out immediate surgery was needed for the serious injury.

Also from personal experience, they perscribed me a medicine I told them I was allergic to.

They Suck

this is just sad

This needs to be investigated. The U of C violates, allegedly, federal laws from refusal to service citizens in emergent care to hiring/promotion policies. It all needs to be investigated and resolved.

Oh, she of grand fashion had a $350K/year job at the glorious UC, but never really had to do anything but get paid. Ah, strange working of politics, and to think that Mrs. Blago gets trashed for cussing a bit.

Why shouldn't they be more selective, if indeed this is the case? The state of Illinois isn't paying their bills, the people going to the Emergency Room without insurance aren't paying their bills. How do we expect them to stay in business so that they can service the rest of us who buy insurance and pay our bills? Health Care is not, despite what some may think, a Human Right.

Michelle Obama would be so proud that her peeps are being treated like this.

Tim from Downers wrote:

Oh, she of grand fashion had a $350K/year job at the glorious UC, but never really had to do anything but get paid. Ah, strange working of politics, and to think that Mrs. Blago gets trashed for cussing a bit.

Let's not forget that was one heck of a raise she received after her hubbie was elected to the Senate. Of course, that earmark he sponsored and got passed for the hospital more than covered it.

Robert wrote:

How do we expect them to stay in business so that they can service the rest of us who buy insurance and pay our bills? Health Care is not, despite what some may think, a Human Right.

Wow. Your attitude is extremely elitist and very disturbing. You've obviously never been in a position where health care has been denied to you or a loved one...I'm just guessing.

For starters, let's not refer to hospitals as businesses, lest you would like your doctor to start referring to you as a customer instead of a patient. Hospitals are institutions for health care--and everyone should be treated.

Universal Health Care NOW.

How could anyone say health care isn't a human right?!!! Perhaps if it didn't cost $20,000 to get some stitches and medicine, people could afford health care. I pay over $5,000 a year for "health insurance", then there's a deductible, co-pay, prescriptions, etc. The question is why do we allow insurance companies to become the middlemen between a physician and our health care "priviledge" as some would say.

Really...health care is not a right...really???? I like to see what you would say when you lose your health care benefits or better yet, find yourself in bankruptcy because your so call wonderful health insurance decides it won't cover your your medical bills because it has determine that the illiness you have is part of a preexisting condition. When that happens, I would bet you would change your mind very quickly. The medical issues in the country are not black and white, they are much bigger than you can even comprehend.

Plain and Simple...If the emt's can get the victim to Stroger in the same condition as uch, send them there, that's why its county. Life savings measures obviously need to come first and foremost but after that county!

The press was to obsessed with Sarah Palin's daughter's womb to bother to ask any questions about Michelle Obama's duties at this hospital. Odds are they still won't ask questions.

I am shocked and appalled by the responses to this article. I can only assume that you all have been born to privilege and do not understand living life in poverty. What about children? You think they should be turned away since they clearly won't be paying the hospital bill? You are privileged to have health insurance or to be able to afford buying health insurance. If only the rest of us were so lucky.

Take care of your own. Why don't people in the community get together and get their own health care system? Ban together (nationwide) and get their own health insurance?

How about fixing your own problem instead of whining about how somebody isn't serving you properly for no good reason at all.

Why should someone else pay for your problems?

I applaud you U of C. I work at a major hospital and the ER is filled with people who are not going to pay a dime for their treatments. Not to mention they clog up the ER and paying paitients like me can't get in for care in a reasonable time. Sorry, no health care? Go to the clinic for sub-par treatment and like it. People who pay for insurance and pay their bills should be able to recieve better treatment then people who don't

edword wrote:

The press was to obsessed with Sarah Palin's daughter's womb to bother to ask any questions about Michelle Obama's duties at this hospital. Odds are they still won't ask questions.

Seriously, you lost the election. It's time to stop talking about it now. Get over it.

cheryl wrote:

Really...health care is not a right...really???? I like to see what you would say when you lose your health care benefits or better yet, find yourself in bankruptcy because your so call wonderful health insurance decides it won't cover your your medical bills because it has determine that the illiness you have is part of a preexisting condition. When that happens, I would bet you would change your mind very quickly. The medical issues in the country are not black and white, they are much bigger than you can even comprehend.

Show me where it states that Health Care is a right? We all have the right to seek health care and recieve health care if we pay for it. But no one has the right to free health care.

aghhhhhhhh wrote:

I'd dump 'em, too. How many of us would serve a customer who we knew would NEVER pay for services rendered???
The State of Illinois is NOT reimbursing mds and others who serve this population.
To h-ll with them. Gunshot wounds, colds, flu, taking up ER time and space. People who REFUSE to take responsibility for themselves.
Let 'em rot. Low class trashy looters.

You are one sick stereotyping AHOLE!
And, the people who want to point the finger at Michelle Obama; show some proof here that she was behind this mess. I guess Obama would be included and should take the blame for this as well. Right?!