80 people went to Dallas emergency rooms 5,139 times in a year — usually because they were lonely

Michael Johnson is 57. He’s from Dallas. He’s diabetic. He has a job in fast food. He rents a home. He gets by. Until recently, no one ever explained to him how hospitals, doctors and emergency rooms work. “My momma always told me when something’s wrong with you, go see the doctor,” Johnson said. The only way he knew to see a doctor was go to the emergency room at Parkland Hospital, which is why he racked up 31 ER visits in 24 months.