Rachel E. Ladd: Urgent care facilities are usually quicker, less crowded

In response to the recent letters (“Memorial ER outrageous” and “Emanuel ER terribly overcrowded,” March 27) regarding cost and wait times at hospital emergency, hospitals are also the victims. A better alternative would be to visit an urgent care facility; they provide quicker care in most instances and at a much more reasonable rates. Emergency rooms cannot turn away anybody; that is why, no matter what time of day, they are always overflowing. Because hospitals must provide service to the uninsured and under-insured, charges to those of us with insurance are astronomical. Maybe emergency rooms need a two-tier approach to processing those with and without insurance?

This story was originally published March 30, 2015 at 1:19 PM with the headline "Rachel E. Ladd: Urgent care facilities are usually quicker, less crowded."