Emergency room doctors from Iowa say soaring health care costs and reduced budgets are hurting their ability to do their jobs. Doctor David Stilley, medical director of Mercy Medical Center’s emergency department in Des Moines, says they want Congress to enact legislation to recognize emergency medical care as a public service, like firemen and police, with appropriate funding. Stilley says the economics haven’t been there to support that care which is causing overcrowding and closures of E-Rs in other states, putting more pressure on the remaining E-Rs. He was part of a delegation of 13 emergency physicians from Iowa who attended a rally in Washington D.C. earlier this week. Stilley says a bill is being introduced in the House that would accomplish their goals. He says the doctors also want changes in the law regarding medical malpractice. Stilley says liability insurance is forcing some doctors to avoid certain procedures and it’s forcing others to quit their practices.
