That’s because ERs are the only way poor people see doctors in the US. Since we can’t go see a GP without insurance and a copay, we wait for the stomach pain that could have been treated to turn into sepsis from a gaping ulcer and then crowd into the ER.

I waited from 6pm to 8am when my doctor's office opened, and then talked to them to determine if I needed to be there (yes, I should have been seen/treated, but now they could see me in the office).

Only one patient was taking from the waiting room in that time.

The US health care system is baaaad.

And almost any specialist is months for a first visit, even for issues that that are life threatening.

i waited that long in public subsidized healthcare, i think they forgot me one time, when they put me in a room, i dint see anyone for like 4 hours because they forgot.