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Cities with Uber Have Lower Rates of Ambulance Usage

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Re: Cities with Uber Have Lower Rates of Ambulance Usage

#181

Post by chrisseaton »

aquadrop wrote: post #180
chrisseaton wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not just a ride in a vehicle is it? Ambulances carry paramedics and sometimes doctors, tens of thousands of dollars worth of drugs and equipment. Even if you don't use all of that, they can't do anything else during the time that they're on your call, they need to be heavily insured, and they also need to stand by all day waiting for calls.

Ok, let's say 3 people with reasonable salaries, $10k a month. Equipment and a car even though is costly is used for long period, let's say $500k over 5 years, that's $8.3k a month. Medications are expendable, because the more load an ambulance has (and medication usage) the more revenue it brings, but ok, let's add $10k a month for resupplying medications, plus other small expenses it's total $50k a month. In the si…

I'm not defending the cost! Just saying you can't look at it and say 'that's more than the cost of the vehicle' because it's not about the cost of the vehicle.

Re: Cities with Uber Have Lower Rates of Ambulance Usage

#182

Post by jacquesm »

jdietrich wrote: post #134

Here in the UK, there has been a major campaign to try and reduce the usage of ambulances and emergency departments. Many of our ambulances literally have "this is not a taxi" written on them. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5c/ff/1e/5cff1eac4bef3b52f76d... Because it's free to use, a lot of people call ambulances when they really don't need them. Women in the early stages of an uncomplicated labour. Young people with…

> Women in the early stages of an uncomplicated labour.

That's taking a bit of a shortcut there. You don't know if a labor is uncomplicated until it is done and it can go from 'uncomplicated' to 'life threatening' in the space of a heartbeat.

Re: Cities with Uber Have Lower Rates of Ambulance Usage

#183

Post by froindt »

t3rmi wrote: post #154

I'm currently a student in the Bay Area. One of the first thing that my seniors told me here was if you are ever injured or in an accident do not call 911 unless its life threatening as the ambulance bill can bankrupt you. We do have insurance but the system is too complicated and the consequences are the too scary if we don't get reimbursed.

Are you from the Bay Area? Is there anything in particular that would cause it to be extra expensive?

During undergrad in the Midwest, I heard a freshman who was way too drunk fall off his lofted bed around 4 in the morning during the last couple days of the year. I heard his roommates discussing whether or not to call the ambulance because last time this guy got super wasted and hit his head drunk, the ambulance ride was a couple thousand dollars.

It was so messed up to hear them talking. He could have a brain bleed going on and they were discussing how handle the situation. Ultimately they did call 911 and he was fine the next morning.

Re: Cities with Uber Have Lower Rates of Ambulance Usage

#184

Post by aquadrop »

dajohnson89 wrote: post #34
Spooky23 wrote: post #10

I’d be more interested to see the reduction in medicab or medivan usage. My father had the misfortune of having a stroke, and transporting him via van is outrageous — you’re talking >$250 for a 15 mile drive, in what amounts to a cargo van with zero service beyond driving. It’s one of those weird markets where the pricing is driven by the Medicaid reimbursement, which is a price floor.

it's perverse that I find $250 to be a reasonable price, compared to other medical expenses.

That's probably if you're actually insured. If not, it will be in thousands.

Re: Cities with Uber Have Lower Rates of Ambulance Usage

#185

Post by aquadrop »

chrisseaton wrote: post #181
aquadrop wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok, let's say 3 people with reasonable salaries, $10k a month. Equipment and a car even though is costly is used for long period, let's say $500k over 5 years, that's $8.3k a month. Medications are expendable, because the more load an ambulance has (and medication usage) the more revenue it brings, but ok, let's add $10k a month for resupplying medications, plus other small expenses it's total $50k a month. In the si…

I'm not defending the cost! Just saying you can't look at it and say 'that's more than the cost of the vehicle' because it's not about the cost of the vehicle.

Yes, I understand. That's why I wanted to take a look at components of the long term cost, not just one ride. And I'm really curious what's the cause for the difference.

Re: Cities with Uber Have Lower Rates of Ambulance Usage

#186

Post by DanBC »

orcdork wrote: post #140
jdietrich wrote: post #134

Here in the UK, there has been a major campaign to try and reduce the usage of ambulances and emergency departments. Many of our ambulances literally have "this is not a taxi" written on them. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5c/ff/1e/5cff1eac4bef3b52f76d... Because it's free to use, a lot of people call ambulances when they really don't need them. Women in the early stages of an uncomplicated labour. Young people with…

Your example is the result of years of government failure to provide adequate funding and support to the health system, not some kind of fantastical moocher, using ambulances for no reason.

Not sure why you got downvoted, what you say is true.

People sat similar things as GP about A&E - "the problem is all the people who use it who shouldn't". No. Those people are easily triaged and sent away. The problems with A&E are all the people who need a hospital bed who spend hours on a trolley in a corridor.

Re: Cities with Uber Have Lower Rates of Ambulance Usage

#187

Post by endisukaj »

dbancajas wrote: post #175
nofilter wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, never moving to America. Never. I value my life more than that. In Estonia (and I'd imagine most of Europe), the ambulance ride is free (unless you prank call them, then you get a fine). The healthcare is free (paid by your employer), doesn't matter how badly you're injured. The only thing that's not free is dental care, but you can insure that, so you pay a monthly fee and they cover the actual cost if somethi…

Is it a good place to live? What about racism etc?

You'll be hard-pressed to find the sort of systematic racism found in the US (especially by institutions) anywhere in Europe. Sure, you might get the occasional glance if you are black especially in Eastern Europe and it's mostly because out of curiosity since there are not many African immigrants in ex-Communist countries as there are in, say, France. But other than that you'll be fine.

I should say though that Eastern European countries do have issues with Islamophobia in general, so if you are muslim I would not recommend those countries.

Re: Cities with Uber Have Lower Rates of Ambulance Usage

#188

Post by solatic »

Xylakant wrote: post #179
blhack wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is pretty much nothing that infuriates me more than the health insurance system. Here is just one example (other than your ambulance example, which is like some trolley-car problem come real): We use "insurance" for routine medical examinations which are supposedly to be done regardless of health. We use "insurance" for YEARLY checkups. The absurdity of this is on par with insuring yourself against getting hung…

It absolutely makes sense to insure routine medical examinations. If they’re not covered, people don’t do them. Many routine examinations uncover conditions that are not critical yet and easy to treat before they turn into a costly nightmare. (e.g. routine skin checks uncover potential cancer before it spreads, tooth checks uncover problems before they require expensive replacement) It’s an investment, not only healt…

But that's the difference between buying insurance, which is an actuarial product you buy to guard against unfortunate events, and buying a service or subscription, which is available for your use when you desire to use it.

Let's ask a simple question to determine which is which in the US: because attending your annual checkups reduces your risk of needing expensive treatment, somebody who attends their annual checkups are cheaper to insure. Are there any American insurance plans that effectively pay patients for attending their checkups? Are there any American insurance plans which say, well, your premiums are $1000/month, but if you go to your annual checkup, not only will your checkup be completely covered with no co-pay, but we'll reduce your next 12 monthly premiums to $950/month each?

After all, if it reduces costs for the insurer, then the insurer is motivated to incentivize patients to go, right?

Re: Cities with Uber Have Lower Rates of Ambulance Usage

#189

Post by joshvm »

dazc wrote: post #148
GordonS wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What country is this?

UK

Also UK, and the problem is basically that there aren't enough ambulances, so they're triaged. It's the same as when you go to A&E and you have to wait hours if they don't think you're an urgent case. Unless you're going to die if they don't get you to the hospital now, they'll put you down the queue (which is fair enough).

As you point out above, the decision to dispatch an ambulance is ultimately the emergency operator's. Typically you tell them what's wrong, and they send out what they think is necessary (which might also be police and fire).

Re: Cities with Uber Have Lower Rates of Ambulance Usage

#190

Post by 47 »

make3 wrote: post #104
asdfaoeu wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know about Canada but in Australia the person who the ambulance is called for gets charged.

in Canada you get charged only if you get in the ambulance

Actually that is not true in BC, Canada. According to BC Emergency Health Services [1], It charges a fee of $50 if transportation is not required. $80 if transportation is required.

[1] http://www.bcehs.ca/about/billing/fees

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