32% of U. of C. redirected patients are poor, uninsured

The Chicago Tribune reports:

U. of C. says its emergency room was overrun with patients who didn't have true emergencies, costing the hospital tens of millions of dollars a year. To help lower those costs, the medical center launched a program in 2005 to educate patients on the best use of the emergency room. Led by First Lady Michelle Obama, the program grew into the Urban Health Initiative, run by one of President Barack Obama's closest friends, Dr. Eric Whitaker.

Imagine that.