ATS what is your opinion on the healthcare system in America? Be painfully honest.

reply to post by citizen6511


I cannot imagine what you endured my friend. I am sorry to hear this. It is horrible to see people suffer on the way for treatment. I wish America had a socialist sector for medicine so people do not have to suffer through all of these ordeals.

reply to post by ElizaAshdene


Thank you for your story, I agree with you. Although I am being trained in the allopathic doctrine, I have noticed that all they want us to do is prescribe medications without actually caring for the patient. I remember I learned in class that it was somewhat ethical to buy a medication for a patient who cannot afford a drug, and I would love to challenge this. Majority of the problems can be cured with simple diet unless it is a crazy infection or genetic problem. Thank you for sharing your story. It seems that you have been coping very well with fibromyalgia, and I implore you. I hope all is well!

reply to post by midniteracerx



If I was licensed to practice, I would treat you for free my friend. It pains me to hear how the healthcare system treats humans as subjects.

I'm a little surprised that no one has mentioned the cost created by law suits and insurance. The medical profession seems to be learning that they have to do every conceivable test and provide every possible treatment to avoid a malpractice suit. It is common, as I've heard, for doctors to spend $100K annually on insurance premiums.

reply to post by Unvarnished


I have worked as a paramedic for ten years. Until this most recent job I have always worked for a county EMS service (two of them) I am now working for a service owned by a hospital, which is owned by a larger corporation. At all of the services I have worked for money and billing of services were a major focus, after all you cannot buy trucks, supplies and hire staff without money. However, the service I currently work for is for profit as opposed to being funded by taxes and billing for services. Both models have their problems, the publicly funded services struggle to operate on a shoestring budget due to their primary revenue being from taxes, the hospital based service cuts corners to protect their bottom line and the stockholder's wallets. In both models the patient's, and the employees, are the ones that suffer. Outdated equipment, understaffing (which leads to overworking of those who are on the job), unsafe conditions due to long hours, extra stress from being overworked, and more injuries from using equipment that isn't up to par. SO to answer your question from someone on the inside, I think that the current state of healthcare in the US is horrible. Unnecessary tests and procedures are done just to cover one's behind so you can't be sued and everything is about the bottom line instead of patient care. I got into this business to help people, not to pad someone's wallet.

Medicine isn't about getting rich and making money, it's about helping people to live more quality lives.

reply to post by Infrasilent


I agree in that the path is very tough, but in the end, it is our job as physicians to study and treat. Free healthcare for people would be ideal, would it not? What do you think about this.

Its a sham.. Doctors there are glorified pillpushers promoting big pharma..
The majority of Doctors dont even screen patients - instead they rely on their nurses or assistants to screen them impossible to treat a patient without first conducting a thorough and proper examination of the patient.
Next is lack of compassion and poor bedside manner ..
Overall western medicine and its drugs do far more harm than good also way too expensive for average people to afford forcing them to do without medical treatment in some cases..
Also most of the 'patients' in western hospitals / clinics are either
1. Hypochondriacs
2. Addicted to prescription drugs and there to get their supply.
3. Vain plastic people getting botox and boobjobs..

The entire system there needs an overhaul and doctors need to remember what they're there for - to heal the sick and injured NOT to push pills for big pharma or make fortunes profiting from misery..

reply to post by mus8472


Yup, I can definitely agree, a majority of the students in my class are in it about the money, and its heartbreaking to see it. And another problem is that medical school admission is so damn competitive that there is a shortage of doctors, causing those to work long hours especially during their residency years, and from there, increasing the chances of mistakes we make. It is scary how the entire system works in the end and I am with you my friend.

reply to post by Expat888


I am with you, it is the insurance companies that are causing all of the problems, actually the CEOs of these insurance companies.

Originally posted by Unvarnished
reply to post by Expat888

 

I am with you, it is the insurance companies that are causing all of the problems, actually the CEOs of these insurance companies.

its been that way for years in the west..
Am a physician trained in both western medicine and tcm (traditional chinese medicine) worked over the years putting people back together in war zones and assisting in disaster areas where was able to do more to help instead of setting up a practice and putting up with all the nonsense from the insurance companies and pharma companies wanting people to push their pills..

For trauma cases I use the surgical treatments that learned from western medicine.
For examining and treating patients (at times I still see patients if the people in the local hmong village need which isnt to often . Am mostly retired these days when do help them I ask nothing in return) I use tcm as its far more effective than western medicine in most cases.

Hope that making sense my english is rusty and its not my native language.

Study hard and never forget your first duty is to the wellbeing of your patients not to the corporations and big pharma

I have to say that I am not happy with the healthcare system in Massachusetts. I know other states don't have the same healthcare system. Basically, if you don't have a job or only work part time with very few hours then you have free healthcare. Then if you work decent hours but are not offered insurance through your company you can get insurance through the state at an affordable rate. I think this is a great idea since it makes healthcare available to everyone. The healthcare offered by the state is very good. You can see most doctors in my area for free if you have it. Most prescriptions are only $2 - $4 each. It also includes dental coverage and emergency room visits.

The only issue I have with this system is that if you do work full time and your employer offers health insurance you are not eligible. It doesn't matter how bad the insurance through your employer might be. I don't mind paying for health insurance. I just want to have at least the same coverage as those who aren't paying any state or federal taxes every week. I wouldn't even mind a small copay. Right now I have a copay of $40 for any appointments and $100 for an emergency room visit. Then on top of that I have to pay extra for any type of x-rays or other specialized testing.

Then to top it off, I have found out that a lot of doctors no longer accept my health insurance because it is a pain to get the insurance company to pay them.

I have looked into other insurance carriers but found the cost to be too much compared to the plan offered by my company.

reply to post by Unvarnished


One of the reasons tha healthcare in America is so high and unobtainable is because lawsuits and malpractice insurance has driven the costs.

Recent political solutions (within the past 20 years or so) have done nothing to address this aspect.

Take my two cents and call me in the morning.

I've never had much problems with it, probably because I'm rarely ever sick. Had Asthma for a few years, and nothing crazy happened. So yea, I suppose it's ok for me. But the way it works is grossly inefficient.

I have few complaints since my family has been lucky enough to normally be covered by health insurance and I have been extremely fortunate in finding good, personable, **caring** pediatricians for my kids & neurologist for my son. (And I thank whatever is out there on a daily basis for our good fortune!)

We lost insurance one time and it was a nightmare. Since my son is autistic I couldn't even get a catastrophic, only cover major stuff, policy for him. We were able to find a work around and get him back on insurance exactly one month before he broke his arm and needed surgery.

I'd like to see more small clinics along the line of the minute-clinics to offer a low-cost treatment service for such things as the well-child checkup, strep throat, minor ailments that don't need an ER. ($400? For a well-check?? OUCH!)

The provider we have has made some amazing strides with alternate ways to get medical treatment to patients. For a recurring problem, or one that really doesn't require a visit to the office, their are blocks of time set aside for the doctors to conduct phone appointments. Advice nurses, and the doctors if needed, are available for non-urgent questions regarding medications or minor questions via email within 24 hours. Since my son had a lot of issues with autism and migraines, these were invaluable! (Ever try to drive an autistic kid with a month-long migraine 30 minutes to see the doctor???)

On the other hand, my almost 3 year old adopted step sister is currently in Russia waiting for a visa to come home. She contracted strep throat & a 104 F fever and was admitted to a nearby hospital. In the semi-rural area of Russia they are in, the family must provide the bedding, food & even the mattress for her hospital stay. There's a huge hole in the wall of her hospital room Need an IV? You must go to the drug store, buy the needle, tubing and solution needed and bring it back. Need an Xray? Find out what size film you need, buy it, wait in line for hours and pray that you get xrayed before the department closes. For necessary medicine, you can sometimes find runners outside the hospital that will run to the drug store for you for a few rubles. Compared to that? I have only minor complaints.

A system designed to profit on peoples pain and suffering is morally abhorrent.

Our current model is to keep the wealthy healthy and to hell with everyone else.

reply to post by Unvarnished


without tainting my story-by reading other posts...as of yet...

I will say many things..

1. my life was saved, more then once, by efficient and well trained people..

2. as a result of my life being "saved" in the fashion at the time, 1984, i acquired Hepatitis C from the Blood transfusion.

3. i never had Any problems until 2009.. after it showed,, i had a year of painful treatment.. pills & Self injections into my abdomen... don't ask about the $$$$$..

4. Modern medicine is wonderful, Emergency treatments save lives.. and i would not have it any other way...

5. Modern doctors, Especially for the poor or UN-Insured are the most ineffective in history -- even in a collage town, Medical School area.. the doctors play "pass the buck" with their patients health.... if they can't figure it out,,,,(or TREAT it),, they send the patient out for "testing" and no treatment plan is really ever produced,, it becomes a game of attrition ,, either the symptoms end,, or the patient moves on to another doctor.. or somebody dies.. but it co$ts the system way too much money to treat humans this way..

and it is called TREATMENT....

it is not called CURING

but it should be the other way around..


just my first thoughts...

BRB

Unvarnished, where are you planning on going ultimately? GP?

Originally posted by darrman
5. Modern doctors, Especially for the poor or UN-Insured are the most ineffective in history -- even in a collage town, Medical School area.. the doctors play "pass the buck" with their patients health.... if they can't figure it out,,,,(or TREAT it),, they send the patient out for "testing" and no treatment plan is really ever produced,, it becomes a game of attrition ,, either the symptoms end,, or the patient moves on to another doctor.. or somebody dies.. but it co$ts the system way too much money to treat humans this way..

and it is called TREATMENT....

it is not called CURING

True.

Over 60+ years I have watched the decline of the medical system.

The secret is finding a doctor that can diagnose your problem. Which may sound easy - but isn't. Few doctors take the time to seriously investigate any problem that is not already categorized and can be diagnosed with a routine test.

or just try taking this pill.... or uhh THIS pill..

and if that doesn't work,, (and you didn't kill yourself).

Try This ONE...

I have formed opinions about the system in America the last few years, and they were largely stimulated by contrast- I moved to France and experienced a different system. It made me more critical of things I had never questioned in the US before.

I find it too bad that medical school is all completely privatized and super expensive.
In France it is basically free to go there, though entrance exams are very difficult to pass.
The huge loans students must get in the US mean they must charge even more for their services later to pay them back.

I think it is less than ideal that money has become the biggest motivator for kids to become doctors.
In France, the doctors and facilities are private, and free to charge as much as they like. But because the national healthcare program has a set amount they are willing to pay for specific treatments and services, the doctors are in competition for patients, and so if the patients have to pay a lot more above that amount, they will not choose the doctor that asks that. This means that doctors are still in the higher level of income, but not as rich as the ones in the states.
Someone asked me once, "But if they cannot look forward to a very high income, then they have no reason to go to medical school for all those grueling years!" Eh... only the people who have a passion for healing the sick do.
It weeds out the ones that don't care and only want the money. Ends up with more attentive and caring doctors!

Doctors do housecalls. They call you at home once a week if you have had important surgery to find out how you are healing up. These little things matter and help you heal better. I'd like to see more of that in the US. I've never felt like anything more than an object on a conveyor belt at doctors offices in the US.

So many people in the US are not free to choose their doctors either.
I talk to my friends and family, and they are limited to the facilities and practioners that their insurance will allow.
Though we have national social security that pays a percentage of our bill, (and all of it in serious cases of illness and surgery) that goes the same for any doctor we choose. I like having the choice.

I don't know a whole lot about the program Obama has come up with. It doesn't sound like what they have here. In France, you only get social security when you become employed. You can also have a "mutual" as well if you choose or can, to add to your coverage. A Mutual is like an insurance company, except it is non-profit. That makes a very big difference to the consumer in the end.

Those are two particular ideas that I would have liked to see added to the american system.