Doctors in general

I'm a little mad about the way our doctors and insurance run things this day and age. Back in the day some fifteen years ago your primary care doctor took care of everything. If you needed some other help you would go to the Fuc**ng ER. Now we have a primary care and twelve(??) others you need to go see ..

Thoughts?

 

How quickly would you like this to get political?

 

I work in the Medical field, and I can tell you that its "all about the money". Also, there are so many quacks out there, posing as Doctors, that its ridiculous. These days it comes down to basically following an block chart. There is no "talent" anymore. Just follow the chart and go. Also, and most people don't realize this, is that med schools must meet a quota as to how many minorities must get into their program. In other words, if you are a white guy applying to get into med school then you are probably being discriminated against. Think about that for a minute!!!

Now, don't get me started about how medicaid/medicare are completely abused.

 

John Q

 

Screw healthcare. That's is all.

 

I also work in healthcare. I can vouch for much of this.

The reason everything is policy-oriented now is tort. You can't practice medicine in America any more, because there's risk, and you might get sued. In the days of yore, it was understood shit happens. Now, people watch House and think that getting medical treatment is like getting your car fixed.

Everything is now done "per policy" so that the MD has a legal defense.

In sane countries (i.e. everywhere but here) the medical system is set up so that the profit and legal-risk motives are out of the picture. Not so here.

There's also a public perception problem...health care is not what the US public thinks it is. You are not purchasing a guaranteed result.

 

Exactly!

 

This is my favorite doc

 

I'll be your huckleberry

 

No I don't really give two shI** about the money side of it. I'm just wondering what the hell changed from the last half of my life? If we need to see a specialist for everything from diabetes to acne or even mild pain pills then what the hell is the point of having a primary car? Why not a PPO or POS(that is Point Of Service) health plans?

 

x2

 

/And on top of that how the hell do the think us common folks can take the time off from our jobs to go see all these different criminals?

 

^^^ This

God damn i hate having to take afternoons off every few weeks to deal with a 15 minute bs appointment.

 

What changed is your expectations.

50 years ago, if you broke your leg, they stuck you in a cast, told you to come back in 8 weeks to cut it off, and that was the end of it. No rehab, no medication, no anything else.

Now, not only does everyone want EVERYTHING done, they don't want to be uncomfortable or inconvenienced while it's done. They want it fixed, by someone else, without any leftover effects.

Which of course isn't possible. But that doesn't stop the public from expecting it.


The short version is: You don't need to see a specialist for everything. You can always decline medical "care". Just do us in the industry a favor and don't schedule an appointment if you're not going to come.

The people you need to be mad at there are your politicians for setting up the draconian labor laws in this country. Did you know most other nations in the developed west REQUIRE employers to provide employees with a minimum number of days off per year, no matter what?

 

i have been seriously screwed over by a handful of doctors. mis-diagnosis has basically been the story of my life for the past 5 years. and last year my "primary care" doctor was also checking out my ear and ATTEMPTED to remove some wax... literally 45 minutes later as i was ready to throw up from dizziness and pain that i can't describe, he just told me to go home and maybe the disaster he just created would go away. a few days later, i ended up having to take the time to go see an ENT who straightened everything out in about 5 minutes. but it cost some real $...
i know i probably sound completely paraniod, but once doctors start proving that i can trust them, i will

 

Not at all. Skepticism is actually probably the best way to approach medical practitioners today.

Make them prove to you that the service you're going to purchase from them is worth the pricetag, and that they know what they're doing.


Also, what was your ear situation? A vestibular problem? BPPV?

 

Hey Andy I am an ex medical provider so I can see where you are coming form. And also I agree with the legal aspect of providing health care. How ever it can't be political issue when you have money. Rather more of a insurance/bureaucracy issue now days.

 

Go Socialist

 

You don't get a voice in this no matter what the hell they tax you. This is a chest beating American thread!

 

Best way to deal with the medical system is not to. Keep yourself healthy. Eat in reasonable amounts, mostly veggies, exercise in reasonable amounts, and don't do stupid shit. Ask questions and make them prove to you there is a benefit to doing or taking X, Y or Z test or drug. I am in vet med, and I'd rather have one of my colleagues help me out than go to a human care facility.

Vets better than Physicians (Standup): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7GdSAjQqNw

Dr agrees that not going to the doctor was best: http://thehappyhospitalist.blogspot.com/2011/04/tortuous-aorta-picture-pushing-limits.html

Pretty much the only use I have for human docs is to refer people to them when they try to show me their rash.