Head Injuries and the Uninsured

[ejpoeta]

In reading the various posts about Natasha Richardson and the obvious difference getting to hospital right away might have been with the outcome, I can't help but wondering about an uninsured person seeking treatment for a head injury. I have been without insurance, but have some now, if not the greatest. But I have been without it and had a small child without it for a period of time. And I wonder if an uninsured person with a head injury would be sent home or given tests to check for concussion or any brain bleeding or anything. I am just curious, because the thought is frightening to me if someone were just sent home with ibuprofen or something.

I know from personal experience regarding my depression and treatment. When I was obviously not doing very well, the doctor didn't send me to the hospital but asked if i was going to hurt myself. I said no and he sent me home. It may not have been the case, but I am confident that had I had insurance I would have been in the hospital. I was pretty bad at the time. I know it isn't the same thing, but I just can't help but wonder.... how differently is an insured person treated than an uninsured. And by no means do I assume all hospitals are like that or would do that.

Just wondering what folks thoughts are on this topic. I know that an uninsured person would generally be hesitant to go to the hospital for a head injury in the first place. Especially if they feel fine. I'm just thinking, especially after this public case of someone dying from a head injury, one might think more people who don't have insurance might not want to risk it... especially with children. though i think with the children the hospital might be more inclined to check and be sure. but i don't know. i guess i'm babbling again.

[Jennicut]

1. I think a hospital would treat anyone its just the cost to the patient would

be astronomical. I am not sure.

[Horse with no Name]

3. A very high number of trauma victims are uninsured

the trauma centers know this. They will treat you anyway. Much of it is never reimbursed.
The tricky part comes in if you need further rehab and therapy. They don't have to take you. So you can be assured your head injury will be treated, however, once they have you stable, the road to recovery is a totally different story.

[Jennicut]

4. Right, the problem comes when you need further treatment.

[Horse with no Name]

2. There are (mostly) subtle signs

in severe head injuries...pupillary changes, slight to severe personality changes, mood changes, irritability, clear runny nose...and other numerous symptoms that can be easily blown off by some.
However, a closed head injury is a medical emergency. Just show up to any ER that accepts federal funding and they have to check you out.

[Warpy]

5. The first ambulance was turned away without any of the

paramedics having seen her. The authorities in Canada are asking questions about that.

I think there might be a lawsuit in this, since people who've had a serious knock on the head are not the best decision makers in the world and she really needed to go in and be checked out.

My only guess is that she didn't want to leave her kids.

Uninsured people who had a loss of consciousness at the scene might get a head CAT scan. Those who didn't would be sent home with Tylenol and advised not to go to sleep for the next day and to come in if they experience any symptoms like nausea, weakness, headache, or confusion. Ibuprofen and aspirin are out of the question since they contribute to bleeding.

[ejpoeta]

6. in regards to richardson, i hope this changes a couple of things....

well, besides more people wearing helmets. Perhaps the ski resorts will have helicopters either on scene or able to get there fast in these cases.... the patients will go straight to a trauma center (as someone in one of the other threads had said did not happen) and perhaps the paramedics will not let the patient decide to not get medical attention, which would probably be hard to do. Time is key here. That is one thing we all have learned from this. just a couple of hours could have made the difference.