Can I get a cab voucher home?

[Midwest Medic]

Sorry, just have to rant a little after the 3rd patient in a row asks for a cab voucher. Don't know how everyone else feels....but this annoys me to no end. Just an idea of mine....but if you can afford the Coach purse, cell phone, and smoke a pack a day, you can afford a cab ride home on your own. Or if you are that cheap that you do not want to pay for that cab yourself, have one of the ten people you have called on your phone while we were examining you to come and pick you up.

It would be interesting to see just how much money a hospital spends on these vouchers each month....let the bean counters eat at that and see how much money we could save in our health care system.

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[southerndoc]

My ED spent $1100 last month on cab vouchers.

 

[EM2BE]

My ED spent $1100 last month on cab vouchers.

To think that doesn't include all the other departments too (psych seems to use a lot too, but most of them can't drive and don't have the extra accessories).

 

[GeneralVeers]

Everyone wants something for free. Welcome to the entitlement society that is America.

 

[docB]

My places are very stingy with them. Only if you're old or in a situation where you'd be considered really unsafe to they get given out. Otherwise crutches will get you to the bus stop. The buses start running again at 0600. Good luck.

 

[WilcoWorld]

A conversation I had last year:

Patient: Can I get a cab voucher?
Me: The busses are still running, can't you take the bus?
Patient: The bus is for poor people.
Me (externally): I took the bus yesterday.
Me (internally): Well then if you can't afford your own cab, doesn't that qualify you to ride the bus?

 

[southerndoc]

Our cab vouchers state "May only be used for travel directly to _____" and lists the patient's address. There is a an endorsement that states "Permissable to transport passenger to ____ Pharmacy and wait no more than 15 minutes for prescriptions before transporting passenger to final destination noted above." We have to call in prescriptions to pharmacies when they go by cab to prevent the cab from hanging around an hour and running up the meter.

 

[EM2BE]

Our cab vouchers state "May only be used for travel directly to _____" and lists the patient's address. There is a an endorsement that states "Permissable to transport passenger to ____ Pharmacy and wait no more than 15 minutes for prescriptions before transporting passenger to final destination noted above." We have to call in prescriptions to pharmacies when they go by cab to prevent the cab from hanging around an hour and running up the meter.

Is there any way to monitor the cabs to make sure they don't run up the tab. I'm sure you've been in one at some point that made 4 right turns (yes, happened to me...dude did not get a tip).

 

[docB]

Everyone wants something for free. Welcome to the entitlement society that is America.

When I'm at my downtown hospital we give out lots of cab vouchers to send the really annoying folks to the suburbs in the south end of town. We tell 'em they should get some religion.😛

 

[Jeff698]

When I'm at my downtown hospital we give out lots of cab vouchers to send the really annoying folks to the suburbs in the south end of town. We tell 'em they should get some religion.😛

And, on the off chance they find themselves in need of medical services again in the near future, you hear wonderful things about the polite and speedy service at the EDs far, far away from yours. 🙂

Take care,
Jeff

 

[GeneralVeers]

When I'm at my downtown hospital we give out lots of cab vouchers to send the really annoying folks to the suburbs in the south end of town. We tell 'em they should get some religion.😛

Thanks for the business, sure I'll send some your way one of these days.

Guess how many cab vouchers I've given out in the past 3 months? Only 1.

To get a cab voucher out of me you have to meet a set of criteria:

1. You called EMS for a legimate urgent or emergent condition.
2. You are over 65 or in some way physically disabled as to prevent you from walking/limping/hobbling to the bus stop.
3. During your ER stay you haven't yelled at me, made your nurse cry, or demanded narcotics.
4. You cannot have a diagnosis of "fibromyalgia".

 

[CK1]

4. You cannot have a diagnosis of "fibromyalgia".

awesome!!!!!!

 

[southerndoc]

4. You cannot have a diagnosis of "fibromyalgia".

Or the New England equivalent, "chronic Lyme."

 

[spyderdoc]

Or the New England equivalent, "chronic Lyme."

Oh, I so don't miss that one!

 

[Aloha Kid]

I say, "let me let you talk to the nurse, they are in charge of that."

 

[TysonCook]

In the past year, maybe I've given out 5, and they are for good reasons (i.e. brought in, not from this area, have actively been on the phone trying to find a ride for ~1-3hrs, and its going to be sitting in the wait room for 6hr until the bus starts up again)

I just say no, it actually is really hard to do in medicine at first, but the more you get used to it, the less akward it becomes. Seriously, it just rolls off my toungue now. And if the patient starts to rant/rave, I just walk out and say that they can always wait in the waiting room.

 

[AmoryBlaine]

Thanks for the business, sure I'll send some your way one of these days.

Guess how many cab vouchers I've given out in the past 3 months? Only 1.

To get a cab voucher out of me you have to meet a set of criteria:

1. You called EMS for a legimate urgent or emergent condition.
2. You are over 65 or in some way physically disabled as to prevent you from walking/limping/hobbling to the bus stop.
3. During your ER stay you haven't yelled at me, made your nurse cry, or demanded narcotics.
4. You cannot have a diagnosis of "fibromyalgia".

5. You are not wearing on your person or carrying as an accesory anything made by a designer.
6. You have not called any of the hospital staff a motherf*****.

 

[GeneralVeers]

I just say no, it actually is really hard to do in medicine at first, but the more you get used to it, the less akward it becomes. Seriously, it just rolls off my toungue now. And if the patient starts to rant/rave, I just walk out and say that they can always wait in the waiting room.

This is something they need to begin teaching in med school. They could have a whole half-semester course entitled: "When to say no to your patients".

 

[elwademd]

This is something they need to begin teaching in med school. They could have a whole half-semester course entitled: "When to say no to your patients".

would need a refresher course during the 3rd or 4th year as well, putting it into practice in the clinical years.

 

[quideam]

It would be a way better use for the "Just Say No" t-shirts...

 

[EM2BE]

would need a refresher course during the 3rd or 4th year as well, putting it into practice in the clinical years.

And I was wondering why I would have told a patient no when the attending told them yes (and not just cab vouchers, but pain killers and the like).

 

[RxnMan]

would need a refresher course during the 3rd or 4th year as well, putting it into practice in the clinical years.

I have no problem running ideas up the chain of command (changes in treatment plans, tests to order, etc.). But if they say jump, I say how high. I don't have the autonomy to act upon the training you're suggesting.

 

[Toohotinvegas33]

I say, "let me let you talk to the nurse, they are in charge of that."

You could probably call down one of those hospital administrations with a Harvard MBA, let them address the situation since they are properly trained in cutting corners.

 

[Febrifuge]

Out loud: "Hmm. I'm not sure who's in charge of that. You should ask the nurse."

Internally: "I'm in a strange town (I mean that in more ways than one), living in the nearby resident-and-visiting-student housing, and I don't have a car here. If I can't get a free cab to take me to the grocery store or the movie theater on my one day off a week, you can't have a cab voucher to go to your buddy's house and resume drinking beers after I staple and/or sew your giant scalp lac."

 

[The White Coat Investor]

I say, "let me let you talk to the nurse, they are in charge of that."

That's what I say too. They love it.

When I'm working on base I call their boss to come pick them up.

 

[GeneralVeers]

That's what I say too. They love it.

When I'm working on base I call their boss to come pick them up.

We should offer them a "free ride" with police for 911 abuse.

 

[beanbean]

Most of the time the patients who ask me for a cab voucher have been legit. I think most of the regulars know we don't hand them out like candy. Often, for those who reside/hangout nearby, security will give them a lift.

Last week I heard:
"Excuse me, what time will lunch be served?"
Sorry, this is not a cruise or a 5 start hotel, but we'll try to get you a tray. Points for politeness. Much better than the standard "Yo, get me a sandwich! Will ya!" uttered by the 10/10 abd pain pt.

 

[zmeister22]

My (former) emergency department stopped giving them out. Can't afford a cab and can't find a ride? Here is a $1.50 bus pass and a seat in the lobby to wait until 6am when it starts to run. Need a map? Check with the front desk.

 

[GeneralVeers]

My (former) emergency department stopped giving them out. Can't afford a cab and can't find a ride? Here is a $1.50 bus pass and a seat in the lobby to wait until 6am when it starts to run. Need a map? Check with the front desk.

Only a bus pass?

The Bellagio picked up one of my patients in a limo.....of course a taxi in front of the hotel had run over her leg.

 

[WilcoWorld]

I gave out a cab voucher last night. The patient was a 65 year old COPD'er - took the ambu to the ED and when she was ready to go home it was 1030pm. She offered to wait in the waiting room until morning when someone could pick her up. Who knows if that was a bluff, but it totally worked on me.