Unfortunately, I have had way too many visits to emergency rooms. Either myself, my wife, my friends, or my relatives....someone is always going to the emergency room.

Each time I have visited an emergency room, my wait has usually been around 4-5 hours.

Granted, each time I was there, I wasn't dying or anything, but I did have an emergency.

Case in point.....the last time I went to the emergency room, I had sliced my index finger, almost to the bone. It required 8 stitches. When my wife and I arrived, the emergency room was packed.

Why were these people here? Were there that many emergencies?

Yes and no. It all depends on what you consider an emergency. Was my finger, bleeding profusely, more of an emergency than someone that had the flu, or a bad cold? I think so.

As I sat in the waiting room, applying pressure to my bleeding finger, I had to hold my breath many times because those around me were coughing their heads off. Just what I needed. I go to the emergency room for stitches and leave with the flu.

There are many after hours clinics that these people can go to for medical attention, when they have a cold, flu, or a stomach virus.

To me, these kinds of illnesses are not considered emergencies, and that emergency rooms should be used only for emergencies. Bad bleeding, chest pains, and broken bones, are a few injuries that I would consider emergencies.

I realize that many people do not have insurance, and that their way of getting medical attention is to go to emergency rooms.....however, I don't think it is fair to the others who have actual emergencies. I don't have the answers, but I know it is frustrating.