It was a dumb move. I admit it.
I'm telling people it was a sports related injury and technically that's true. Inevitably when you go bowling with bunch of little kids (in this case my own kids and many nephews and nieces) a ball is going to get stuck in the middle of a lane. Unfortunately the bowling alley was so busy at the time we went that the man at the front desk was taking too long to come push the ball down so I decided to take a little stroll along the gutters to get it myself. Everything was going fine until I slipped and landed with a thud on my shoulder. I immediately asked my wife to call for an ambulance as I was sure it was broken. It hurt so much that I thought I was going to pass out.
The medics said they didn't see anything obviously broken but recommended that I go for x-rays to get a proper diagnosis. I thought about going to an urgent care center but the emergency room seemed to be a more appropriate option for me at the moment.
The ER was an absolute mess. I couldn't get anyone's attention for help. There seemed to be more maintenance staff than nursing staff. Luckily, was able to snag one of the four folding chairs in the waiting area (which I had to share with my pregnant wife). I waited an hour before a PA saw me.
I just assumed the PA was the first line of defense before they let me see a real doctor. He spent about 30 seconds with me and said I needed x-rays. I waited another hour for x-rays which ended up coming back negative and the PA sent me home with a sling and a script for ibuprofen. No doctor. No diagnosis. Not even any pain killers.
The hospital billed $1,569.69. United Healthcare knocked it down to $1,157.69, of which $951.92 was covered and I'm left with a bill for $205.77. The PA billed separately and asked for another $275.
This personal experience solidified in my mind what I've been preaching for years. Do whatever you can to avoid the ER. It is an awful place to seek non emergency medical care. Urgent care centers are opening up everywhere (two in my neighborhood in the last four months) and many of them have the same or better resources as emergency rooms for just a fraction of the price.
