Northern Colorado healthcare providers face a paradox as they build ERs to meet demand, but too many patients are using the ER as primary care, according to an article on the Greeley Tribune website.
No health system wants to the be only one without an ER, even when they wish at times that their patients would make better choices in their healthcare options, the article said.
Emergency healthcare facilities are much more expensive than an urgent care facility, and the urgent care can mostly provide the same care.
“But the bottom line is, in America, the ERs are kind of becoming the default of where people go for primary care,” said Rick Sutton, CEO at North Colorado Medical Center.
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