Dr. Eric Forsthoefel is a physician trained in ER treatments. He has gained approval from various boards and licensing entities, such as the American Board of ER Medicine. Dr. Forsthoefel retains a medical license issued by the state of Florida, which he received in 2014. He has been working in emergency room settings for well over five years. In that time, he has learned to handle many concerned patients and families, broken bones, heart attacks, and extreme traumas.

Dr. Eric Forsthoefel knows from first-hand experience why people go to the hospital. Many of them do not have any other health care provider to turn to. Both hospitals and emergency rooms have always cared for every patient that walked in the door no matter how busy the ER. Team members who work in these emergency room situations worry about the ever-growing crisis of non-emergency care patients.

There have been reports published that collected information from a broad spectrum of people. In a recent publication created by George Washington University, data demonstrated that some people chose the ER versus other types of care because it was more convenient than waiting at a traditional office. Many who went to the hospital did not have a regular physician to see. To this group, it did not appear they had any other options to get medical treatment.

Organizations that support emergency room doctors have been expressing concern about insurance companies that want to change the copay of non-emergency treatments in ER settings. Physicians state that in an emergency situation it is not easy to detect the urgency without actually seeing the patient. Other concerns brought up were people who would not seek help even when they had a true emergency because they were concerned about the insurance paying for the hospital visit and their out-of-pocket expenses.

Dr. Eric Forsthoefel has spent a great deal of time in real-life urgent-care situations. Because of this, he has a proper perspective on the job. Some of the options that may help release the bulging emergency rooms are working with primary care physicians to create more access for patients. One thought is primary-care offices could adjust their hours to be more flexible with people’s work schedule, such as being open on Saturdays or Sundays.

One lingering myth is people who show up at hospital emergency rooms were not insured. Over 75% of people that entered hospitals in Florida that had non-emergency conditions had insurance. The truth turned out to be people who did not have insurance did not go to the ER because they were afraid of the financial risks, reports the American Medical Association. The AMA has been collecting and publishing information for decades.

Dr. Eric Forsthoefel understands that working with hospitals, emergency room staff, insurance companies, and other healthcare providers is one way to tackle the burdens placed on unnecessary ER visits. Establishing alternative treatments and educating the public on the benefits of seeking other options in non-emergency situations are just a few avenues to investigate to help increase the care and efficiency of emergency rooms.

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