University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, February 5, 1991
5
Local emergency room visits shorter than nation's average
By Amy Francis
By Amy Francis
Kansan staff writer
Anything from a fever to car-accident injuries can be treated in an emergency room. But how long a person has to wait for care varies as much as the kinds of cases that can be treated.
A person can wait up to 10 days to receive help in some emergency rooms in the United States, according to the National Association of Public Hospitals, but the wait in the Lawrence area is not that long.
A person can expect to stay an average of two hours from the time admitted to the time released at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital emergency room, said Steven Eslanger, assistant executive director of the hospital that also depends on the number of other cases be treated at the time.
"Any stay that is over two hours is investigated," Ensinger said. "We look at the reasons why they're stacking up."
Although Ensinger said it was unusual for a visit to take more than two hours, a person might have to
wait 15 to 30 minutes before getting help for p to a m; the busiest line is from p to m
The average amount of time spent in the University of Kansas Medical Center emergency room is about two hours and 20 minutes, said Robert Prosser, director of emergency services at KU Medicine. That amount of time varies, though.
"It depends on what else is here," Prosser said. "In our emergency room we see a whole gnut."
One possible reason the wait at the Lawrence hospital might be shorter than at the Med Center is that more medical Med Center's emergency services.
Walter Nasalik, Med Center administrator, said there were 12,100 visits to the Med Center emergency room from July to December in 1990. That was a slight decrease from previous years.
Ensinger said there had been an increase in the number of visits to the Lawrence hospital's emergency services during 1990. The number went from about 10,000 a few years ago to about 16,000 in 1990.
Another reason for the different amounts of time spent at the two hospitals could be the difference in the cases seen at the hospitals.
Prosser said there had been an increase in the number of drug, and violence-related cases at the Med Center.
Ensinger said, "I think victims of violent crimes are really a small percentage. I don't know that we have seen an increase in rape victims. I think a lot of people use the agency room for a primary physician."
Prosser said the lowest fee the Med Center charged for emergency room service was $15, which is charged for a case that requires no equipment very little physician's time is needed. A visit can cost as much as $750 for a severe case. Both costs do not include the physician's fee.
Ensinger said that although the amount varied, there was a basic hospital fee of $64 at the Lawrence Clinic and it does not include the physician's fee.
"It really just costs that much to walk in the door." he said.
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Congratulations New Initiates
Stephanie, Chris, Carolyn, Sandra, Bob, Marguerite
The Schumm Family
Bob Schumm believes Lawrence is a great place to live and has worked hard to keep it that way-
BOB SUPPORTS:
- K.U. — The Margin of Excellence program
- Economic development - city tax incentives to produce mix of high quality jobs
- Economic development
- Planned quality growth
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- Continued major retail development downtown
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Vote for Bob Schumm - Lawrence City Commission
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I want to help Bob - Count me in!
NAME
ADDRESS:
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LAWRENCE, KANSAS ZIP    PHONE
□ My financial contribution is enclosed. Amount ___
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□ I would like a yard sign. □ I will host a neighborhood coffee. □ I will walk door-to-door. □ I will
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**Mail to:** Win Campbell, 841 Massachusetts, Lawrence, Kansas 60044
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10. For a Computer by Committee Wm Campbell, Treasure
Adpd for by Committee to Eilef Bob Schumm for City Commission, Wm Campbell, Treasure