This busy Chicago ER, which receives 40,000 ER patients per year, is closing its doors to ambulances. On average, that works out to be 109 ER patients per day. I'm glad my hospital is not that busy!

Full article:

emtresource.com/news/48-ems/298-chicago-...accepting-ambulances

I understand the concept of walk-in emergency, but walk-in emergencies are far and in between key word being "walk-in". Not saying that all ambulance calls are emergencies i have had my fair share of the 911 doctor appointment or the "frequent fliers" as they have become known, but what about that typical call of the 70yo pt in cardiac arrest or the 40yo unconscious pt with a diabetic emergency. They are sill an Emergency Room like it or not, in my opinion it should be mandatory to accept ambulance's at a an ER. I always thought as medical professionals our golden rule was "do no harm" those 5 minutes down the road may be the difference in life or death. Whats next Chicago Fire Department has to many "i locked my keys in the house with the oven on" and they are not going to respond to fires anymore!

I understand the concept of walk-in emergency, but walk-in emergencies are far and in between key word being "walk-in". Not saying that all ambulance calls are emergencies i have had my fair share of the 911 doctor appointment or the "frequent fliers" as they have become known, but what about that typical call of the 70yo pt in cardiac arrest or the 40yo unconscious pt with a diabetic emergency. They are sill an Emergency Room like it or not, in my opinion it should be mandatory to accept ambulance's at a an ER. I always thought as medical professionals our golden rule was "do no harm" those 5 minutes down the road may be the difference in life or death. Whats next Chicago Fire Department has to many "i locked my keys in the house with the oven on" and they are not going to respond to fires anymore!