If I practiced medicine like the authors if this article practiced journalism, I not only would be fired on the spot, but would be sued for malpractice. Post after post by in-the-trenches ER practitioners vehemently disagree with virtually every word written, and give statistics and anecdotal evidence to support their position. What is abundantly clear is the author completely got it wrong, what also is clear is Slate has no journalistic integrity nor a competent editor to vet out poorly written and specious articles. You should be ashamed.

Now to the point at hand. The solution really is simple. Either all medical practitioners should be held to the same rules that govern the ER eg. unable to refuse care due to lack of insurance or payment, OR the ER department should have the discretion to refuse care to people who do not meet a strict criteria for EMERGENCY care.
Emergency medicine is THE MOST EXPENSIVE form of first line medical care. Why therefore should they be the only medical providers required to treat every and all persons regardless of their malady or ability to pay? If every urgent care, primary physician or specialist shared the burden, and the ER was reserved for emergent patients defined by medical professionals, not the patient, this problem would go away overnight.