Before You Rush to The Emergency Room

Tampa Bay, Fl

Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD 
Author:  In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.      

You've probably noticed a lot of ads on TV, in the newspaper and even in the mail about coming to the hospital emergency room. All the ads are quick to point out if you are experiencing a serious emergency such as a heart attack, stroke, or other life-threatening medical situation you should go to the emergency room immediately.

Emergency rooms at major hospitals are all suffering a significant decline in visits due to the COVID-19 virus. Obviously along with the decline in visits comes a decline in revenues and emergency rooms are important revenue and profit producers for virtually all hospitals who have them.

All of those smiling faces and doctors with longing, caring looks and pictures and videos of cleaning and gurneys being pushed lovingly through the emergency-room  halls are really just an attempt to get you to think about the emergency room next time you have a sniffle, sprain, cut, bruise or something you don't quite understand going on in your body.

Just remember, emergency-room care is some of the most expensive medical care you can search out. Think about all those stories about the $80.00 aspirin, $100 a pill Tylenol or its equivalent and a $50 band aid with a $200 doctor procedure to stick it on your arm.

When you need an emergency room, and it's an emergency you need to go to the emergency room. It is not a particularly good place to go to get a COVID-19 test, and if you're lonely and just looking for someone to talk to it's going to be a really expensive conversation.

An ER visit is rarely something that you anticipate or prepare for days or weeks in advance. You can make your next visit as smooth as possible by taking along these items with you or having them on hand in your purse, wallet, or home.

Things to bring to the emergency room

List of Current Medications 
List of Allergies 
List of Doctors treating you 
Insurance Cards and Co-Pay 
Photo Identification 
Legal Documents (Living Will and/or Directives) 
Ingested Poison, Spiders, and Other Toxins 
Emergency Contact Information

If you are of legal age and have a significant other as opposed to a spouse, or if a relative or friend takes you to the ER, they may be asked to sign the admissions form. They should decline because in most cases, this is an attempt to get another person liable for payment.

If the ER refuses care if your significant other, relative or friend refuses to sign, grab your cell phone and call the police or sheriff.

In fact, if you're not experiencing severe medical trauma such as heart attack symptoms, stroke symptoms, uncontrolled dizziness or certain things like that you should probably consider the urgent care office in preference to a trip to the hospital emergency room.

You might want to check your health insurance policy or your Medicare supplement policy and look at the difference between copays for an emergency room and an urgent care center.

Emergency rooms provide a vital an essential service to all communities. Because of the level of care, type of care and the emergency nature of the situation costs are extremely high.

They will be happy to see you, just be sure to bring your credit card along and be careful of those forms you sign when you go through admissions to the emergency room.

When you see terms like” waive rights to," “must present credit card," (cash is always an option) “responsible for costs not covered by insurance," “List an additional responsible party” or anything similar mark them out, initial and date. If they refuse care, see above comment.

Seriously, right now while you have some time get out your Medicare supplement health care insurance and check on those copays and deductibles. When you start feeling bad, it might be a good idea to call your primary-care doctor and either get some advice over the phone or even doing an online video office visit before you race to the emergency room.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.  

Disclosures: Not a Medical Doctor

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The Hijacking of the Manatee County Commission

Tampa Bay, Fl 

Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author:  In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.      

On August 18th, the Republican citizens of Manatee County have an awesome responsibility.

Only the Republican Party has nominated candidates for the County Commission at large District 7 seat. What that means, is that whoever wins the primary election becomes the new District 7 County commissioner at large.

There are two candidates running for this office one is George Kruse the other, Ed Hunzeker the former Manatee County Administrator, a position he held for 12 years. Hunzeker retired, under a bit of duress actually, from his position as County Administrator commenting that he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Then he filed for the County Commission District 5 seat and the current incumbent for District 7 was apparently encouraged not to run for another term, and Hunzeker switched his seat and decided to run for the District 7 at-large  position.

Hunzeker is supported by the big developers, builders and those who do business with them. This entire effort appears to be an obvious attempt to put the big developers in command of Manatee County.

Some may mistakenly think this is a battle between two Republicans and who is the most conservative, but it is not.

It's a battle for the control of the Manatee County Commission and whether or not the elected commissioners, and the currently appointed County administrator will be responsible  for what happens in Manatee County or Ed Hunzeker, and the big developers will be totally in command.

Hunzeker still has many allies and supporters working in the Manatee County government from his run as County Administrator. Loyalties will be divided. The current administrator, who is not a strong or confident leader will find her ability to lead quickly eroded as Hunzeker bypasses her to deal directly with staff.

It will be difficult for her to maintain administrative control of the Manatee County organizational structure with Ed Hunzeker on the County Commission in the District 7 at-large seat. He will probably soon be seated as the chair of the County Commission looking over her shoulder.

There will be no contest in the general election, the winner of the primary on August 18th becomes the new District 7 commissioner at large.

There's only one person standing in Hunzeker’s way at this point and that person is George Kruse. Kruse, whose basic career background is in commercial real estate finance is the other candidate in the primary race.

While George Kruse is more than qualified to serve as the District 7 Manatee County commissioner at large, more importantly, Kruse’s election to the District 7 seat will ensure that the separation of powers that make these County governments work remains in place.

From the Kruse Campaign Facebook Page:
I will return both transparency and your collective voice to our local government. Too many people in Manatee County feel they have lost a voice in the decision-making process. As a private citizen outside of government myself, I will ensure that we bring discussions out in the public and that everyone in our community is afforded a Bill of Rights to be heard and respected. I believe in open dialogue, fair representation and opportunity for all through

inclusive policies.

If you are interested in who will be running Manatee County if Ed Hunzeker wins the primary, check out my Post 149,469 Disenfranchised Voters in The Manatee County Commissioner At Large Race and scroll down. Look at the campaign donors’ names and affiliations. Not sure about my data? Go to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections site and look at the campaign-finance  reports for yourself.

This County Commission election is too important to pass up. Be sure you vote.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.  

Disclosures: Registered Republican

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Sending Kids Back to Brick and Mortar Schools is Just Plain Stupid

 

Tampa Bay, Fl 

Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author:  In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.      

The teachers have done the research, and they are desperately trying to inform the decision makers.

The politicians are fighting them at every turn and in the courts.

It looks like the primary qualification to be a politician is you had to ignore your teachers and the facts.

It could explain a lot.

The Politician’s Report Card looks awful.

 

I wonder what the DeSantis excuse will be when the infection rate and mortality rate start going up among teachers and young people?

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.