[notch656c]

Having worked in an ED I can tell you it's much more like "when you make ED the only place that can't turn away patients, patient goes there for everything including the common cold."

It's not so much a minor thing turned into an emergency (that is a problem of course) but rather the patient has no other venue for minor needs without money or insurance.

[ticviking]

This is the big thing.

If triage were able to turn away non-emergency cases legally it would gradually change, but for people with more time than money the ER basically ensures you'll be seen.