But now some hospitals seem to be changing their tune. They not only want patients to come into the ER, they're trying to draw them in with everything from TV ads to free movie passes. HealthWeek's Robert Davis tells us why. An estimated 40 percent of those visits are non-urgent. If you watch TV medical dramas, this may be your impression of an emergency room.
Family members can wait in private rooms, complete with sofas, telephones and TV's.
There's a concierge on hand, and patient advocates to answer questions and ease the way. Warren Green heads up Lifebridge Health, the company that owns Sinai Hospital. Like any other brand, this one's promoted through advertising, which has appeared on television, in newspapers and magazines, and it seems to be working. This hospital in Michigan promises that if you're not seen by a doctor within 30 minutes, you get free movie passes. They typically have more patients than they can handle and almost always lose money.