Ranking right up where with the Tooth Fairy and Dealer's Cost is the absurd notion that Americans enjoy the fruits of a consumer-driven "free market" health care system.
As if the critically injured victim of an expressway crash has a choice between life-saving care at Ajax Regional or Acme Medical.
Which they don't.
Reality is, for patients in need of immediate critical care, hospital choices are based on the nearest ER -- ideally designated as a Trauma Center.
And as for a heart attack victim's status as a so-called "health care consumer"...
Well, consider the "spread" in the average retail price charged by various hospitals for a Broward County resident in the midst of congestive heart failure:
Broward Medical $83,645
Cleveland Clinic $52,442
Coral Springs $39,753
Florida Medical $103,908
Holt Cross $65,475
Imperial Point $31,657
Memorial Miramar $72,911
Memorial Pembroke $72,848
Memorial Regional $109,703
Memorial South $51,559
North Broward $48,920
Northwest $104,247
Plantation General $120,293
University $73,869
Westside $103,196
Source - Broward Regional Health
Planning Council
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