Why are so many free-standing emergency rooms being built in Pearland? (Houston: low income, insurance)

[honeyinhouston]

We have three free standing ER's on the west side of Pearland, Pearland Emergency Center, St. Lukes Emergency Center, Neighbors emergency center and now a fourth one on the way, Methodist. All of these emergency centers are within 3 miles of each other. Why so many?

[lhafer]

It's not just pearland, they are everywhere!

[LostInHouston]

Originally Posted by honeyinhouston

We have three free standing ER's on the west side of Pearland, Pearland Emergency Center, St. Lukes Emergency Center, Neighbors emergency center and now a fourth one on the way, Methodist. All of these emergency centers are within 3 miles of each other. Why so many?

They are popping up all over the Houston area.

People need to be careful using them... they are not urgent cares, they bill the same as emergency rooms and be sure they take your insurance.

[DanielWayne]

Clear lake too. Are they true emergency rooms able to handle stuff like heart problems or other serious emergencies?

[jasonamd]

If they call themselves an emergency room they should be able to handle anything an emergency room would. Took my wife to Elite Care in League City when she woke up one morning with severe pain. Got seen within 5 minutes and they had all diagnostic capabilities right there including xray, ct scan, ultrasound and lab. Much nicer than a hospital emergency room but not cheap. Luckily they took our insurance and while out of network, our insurance still paid as much as in network because they considered it an emergency.

Like someone else said these aren't the same as an urgent care so don't go to one if it isn't an emergency. If you wouldn't go to a hospital ER, don't go to one of these.

[gsmj]

Originally Posted by DanielWayne

Clear lake too. Are they true emergency rooms able to handle stuff like heart problems or other serious emergencies?

No. They are a stand-alone ER separate from the general hospital that they are owned by. They outsource most of their lab work and tests to a 24 hour facility for quick turn-around and results. If you need to be admitted, you are transferred to traditional hospital.

The benefit to the stand-alone ER's is the expedited service for low-level emergencies just outside the scope of a doctor or urgent care. When my wife got in a car wreck we went to St. Michaels in Sugar Land to have her legs examined (hours after the crash they were still badly bruised and swollen, and we were concerned of a possible fracture). They did a full physical assessment, blood-work, X-Rays, and even a CT-Scan.

We walked in, and upon proof of private insurance my wife was immediately taken to the back and examined before I could even finish filling out her paperwork. In that time two more people came in and were turned away because all they had was Medicaid. We were in and out in about three hours, got the same level of care that a traditional ER would offer in a fraction of the time, and all at the same co-pay.

As for whether to use them, ask yourself two simple questions:

1. Can your "emergency" wait for a doctor's appointment or a visit to an urgent care clinic (aka after-hours doctors clinic)?

2. If "no", then do you feel like your emergency is so serious that you could die because of it, if not immediately treated? If "no" again, and you have private insurance and a way to get there, you could consider a stand-alone ER. If "yes" though, then call 911 and have an ambulance treat and transport you to the most appropriate facility.

This is all just my opinion.

[houstonfan]

There are so many because it's a very profitable business. Be careful using them as others have mentioned. And not all are the same as a hospital ER. Some serious conditions, they'll have an ambulance send you to a real hospital. They are nice and fancy though!

[Oildog]

Because there are so many low income folks that go to the ER downtown and the med center when they have aches and pains. These ER places are supposed to be for EMERGENCIES and immediate care. They also make cash cause they aren't cheap, cause they are 'out of network' for most.

[jtothemak]

Just like Urgent care not only make sure they take your insurance but are IN-Network! I had the problem happen once as they said they took my insurance and then got a very large bill because they were not in-network.

From that point on, anything medical or dental related I always make sure they are in network!

Best thing is to do your homework before you have an emergency so you know your options when you actually need it.

[texas7]

Make sure they are staffed by actual physicians. Some aren't. You have to do your homework.