Saturday, September 05, 2009

SECOND OPINIONS

POLITRIXS RECENTLY ASKED SEVERAL MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS,

“WHAT’S THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN OUR HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM?”

THEIR ANSWERS…


UROLOGIST… THE TRIAL LAWYERS AND HMO’S ARE DESTROYING THE SYSTEM.
AMERICANS PAY MORE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY AND GET LESS HEALTH CARE IN RETURN.


CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST… THE INSURANCE COMPANY GATEKEEPERS WHO MAKE UNINFORMED DECISIONS REGARDING PEOPLE’S CONDITIONS AND NEEDS.


OPERATION SMILE DENTIST…OUR MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM IS A LACK OF CATASTROPHIC HEALTH COVERAGE FOR ALL PEOPLE.
THE CAPITATION SYSTEM IS ANOTHER MAJOR PROBLEM.


MRI SPECIALIST… THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS INSURANCE COMPANIES IN GENERAL.


SURGEON…HOSPITALS ARE FULL OF PEOPLE ARE WHO ARE OBESE, SMOKERS, OR BOOZERS.
75% OF THE PATIENTS IN A HOSPITAL ARE THERE DUE TO BAD, BUT AVOIDABLE LIFE-STYLES.


SONOLOGIST…THE WORST PART OF OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS INSURANCE COMPANIES.


SURGEON…IT’S THE “GRANDMA'S GOTTA F**KING DIE” AVOIDANCE SYNDROME.WE SPEND WAY TOO MUCH ON OLD PEOPLE (AWFUL TO ADMIT OR EVEN SAY OUT LOUD BUT A MAJOR PROBLEM) I HAVE A 92 YEAR OLD ON CHEMOTHERAPY RIGHT NOW!! (THE ONCOLOGIST THOUGHT IT WAS REASONABLE!!!)WE ALSO DO A HORRIBLE JOB WITH TERMINAL PATIENTS. I HAVE A WOMAN WITH END STAGE METASTATIC CANCER WHO'S MEDICAL DOCTOR PUT HER ON IV NUTRITION , CALLED TPN, WHICH ALONE COSTS $2,000 PER DAY. SHE IS GOING TO BE DEAD IN A MONTH BUT WE WILL SPEND AT LEAST 100K OVER THIS MONTH. WE COULD IMMUNIZE MANY CHILDREN FOR WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SPEND KEEPING THIS POOR WOMAN ALIVE ANOTHER MONTH AT BEST.ALSO, WE DON’T NEED TO COMPLETELY CHANGE THE SYSTEM BUT THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT OF WASTE.



NURSE…ONE MAJOR PROBLEM IS THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE DICTATING THE TREATMENT AND CARE A PATIENT RECEIVES.
THESE DECISIONS SHOULD COME FROM MEDICAL DOCTORS.


PHYSICAL THERAPIST… WE NEED A GENERAL OVERSIGHT TO STOP THE RIPPING OFF OF THE SYSTEM


NEUROLOGIST…. GP’S ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY AND FEW ARE ENTERING THE FIELD.
ALSO, I PAY A LARGE PART OF MY INCOME TO COVER MYSELF AGAINST MALPRACTICE SUITS.


OTOLARYNGOLOGIST…INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE HORRIBLE.
ALSO, WE REFUSE TO ACCEPT EUTHANASIA IN OUR SOCIETY. WE KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE POINTLESSLY.



PEDIATRIC NURSE… THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ABUSE THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING DOCTORS AND PATIENTS AND WE'RE IN SUCH A LITIGIOUS SOCIETY THAT DIAGNOSING AND CONFIRMING DIAGNOSES AND SECOND OPINIONS HAVE ALL GOTTEN TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL.
PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE, WHICH INCLUDES A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, IS FOREIGN TO MOST AMERICANS. SMOKING, OBESITY, LACK OF EXERCISE, STRESS, ETC. ARE ALL-PREVALENT IN OUR SOCIETY, AND ARE ALL CONTRIBUTING TO ILL HEALTH, AND TO RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS.
SCIENTISTS GO INTO RESEARCH KNOWING THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE WEALTHY; IT IS A LABOR OF LOVE.
I'M CERTAIN THAT MANY DOCTORS ARE MORE INTERESTED IN HOW MUCH THEY WILL EARN.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

The medical profession will do very well if the system changes to what has been proposed. There will be lots of cash passed under the table from those who can afford to pay a premium to get a scarely available appointment.

quicksand said...

DEAR ANON,

YES. THAT IS THE CASE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE CASE.
MONEY IS, AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN POWER.

BUT IS THAT A REASON TO AVOID UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE?

Anonymous said...

I posted this on an earlier thread, and I stand by it.

The system needs reworking, for sure -- but you all really trust the bufoons we call Congress to get it right? These people who forget to pay taxes? These people who are so in it for themselves and for all the perks and private jets? Come on now people, wake up. I wouldn't trust them to change a lightbulb -- oh no actually, they'd be good at that, it involves screwing.

Anonymous said...

I would prefer to private health insurance and deal with insurance companies trying to make a profit. At least I know what their motive is.

quicksand said...

THIS CAME FROM SANDY BY E-MAIL.

Yes, our health care system sucks...

Insurance companies are a pain to deal with but on some level (even tho I hate to admit this) some oversight body is necessary (without a profit motive).

I believe insurance companies should be non-profit and certainly not publicly-owned. Rather than providing every American with health insurance perhaps the government should set up a division that insures every American and sets guidelines for "necessary" procedures which it will cover...

The doctors will order procedures that are not necessary IF the insurance companies will pay for it. An example: A friend of mine diagnosed 10 weeks ago with Stage 4 Lung Cancer (terminal) was given chemo - the most it would have extended her life was weeks...and operated on for hip replacement as it had gotten to her bones ! ! !
She is now dead! Two completely unnecessary procedures and torture (not treatment for the patient). Someone should have been a patient advocate and she should have been given pain meds, tranqs., good food and rest and told to get her affairs in order. Meanwhile the last 10 weeks of her life, she suffered needlessly because she had insurance that would pay for it !

Yet, insurance companies will not pay for certain procedures especially diagnostic procedures which might prevent illness.

The drug companies are another problem but they also have their own justifications for the exorbitant prices of medicines they develop (which I happen to agree with.)

We should just socialize the medical system and let every American have health care like the fire/police departments. Let the govt get meds at cost and give drug companies tax incentives for this. There would also be the option of "private" doctors you could go to and insurance companies to cover this.

Isn't the Veteran's Administration run like this??? They get wonderful care.

Something has got to give...

Thanks for writing about this...maybe if enough people write to legislators suggesting solutions and demanding coverage, something will happen...hopefully...

Sandy

quicksand said...

DEAR ANON,

ALTHOUGH YOU EXAGGERATE SOME, YOUR POINT IS UNDERSTOOD.

THE QUESTION IS, WHAT SHOULD WE DO FOR THE MILLIONS OF WORKING AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO CAN'T AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE?

Unknown said...

Anon 10.28 - The medical profession does very well as it is and I am a bit surprised by the results of Bruce's poll because the medical lobby is one of the biggest obstacles to change.
How anyone can defend insurance companies and the private sector in the midst of an economic crisis that was brought about by the same bunch of thugs is beyond any logic.

I live in a country that has socialised medicine. We have a longer life expectancy than you have in America and lower infant mortality rates, no shortage of GPs and waiting lists that are no diffferent than what you have. All this at obe-third less than what it costs you. And never has my doctor had to ask an insurance company or a bureaucrat for approval for treatment. From this side of the Atlantic, it works and what you have there looks barbaric and quite frankly stupid. Why would I want a decision on treatment made by some bean counter who is accountable to no one but shareholders. How can anyone even think this makes sense. You have a medical profession and drug industry who needs to medicalise everything so that you get hip replacements for a terminal cancer patient; and an insurance industry whose mission is to limit what it pays out. I have yet to hear an argument that says it makes sense. You have the worst medical system in the industrialised world but are afraid to admit it. Go ahead, trust the insurance companies. AIG is an insurance company.

quicksand said...

THANKS V-MAN,

WE IN AMERICA MUST GET OVER THIS CENTER-OF-THE-UNIVERSE OPINION WE HAVE ABOUT OURSELVES.
OTHER COUNTRIES CAN ACTUALLY THINK.
X-RAYS INVENTED IN GERMANY.
ARTIFICIAL JOINTS INVENTED IN FRANCE.
THE LIST GOES ON.......

Anonymous said...

V della sala:
I would argue that the longer life expectancies in your country may have more to do with the American way of life -- as in our eating/dietary habits are horrendous. Processed, steroid-laced foods, sedentary lifestyle, little down time, etc. not to mention having the funds to stuff your face to capacity is probably the #1 problem in this country. I am for reform -- I just really think the Government is the least competent, least efficient group to do this. It is a complex issue and they have proven time and time again to be inept. Do we throw good money after bad just because we need to get a healthcare plan out there -- or do we take our time and get it right? What if it was mandatory for people to have health insurance (like car insurance) -- that would drive down prices, for starters. What if it was openned up so you could buy it across state lines so insurance companies would have to compete -- like they do in other arenas? That would lower the price too. What if small busines owners could pool together and buy into one plan -- maybe more of them could afford to offer it. I'm afraid more small business owners may not offer it at all if this passes. As for the VA services -- they're not all that. My Mom receives those services and there's a lot of red tape. I don't like insurance companies, either -- but they are the devil I at least know. Nothing pisses me off more than a so-called "socal servant" paying his friends back with my tax dollars under the banner of the common good. This has been going on too long, with too many dirty hands and so I have zero confidence in our elected officials to actually pull this off. I wish I didn't feel this way, really I do -- and if it does pass, I hope I am wrong. I hope it is a wonderful system -- but in my heart -- I don't think so. "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me..." as the saying goes.