Other Resources My Cup of Joe » a healthcare rant......... Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, the bear, DerekL, alicefoeller Reply
 
 
of 3
 
 
2009-09-15 8:37 AM
in reply to: #2405436

User image

Payson, AZ
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
tkd.teacher - 2009-09-14 11:34 AM
bzgl40 - 2009-09-14 10:59 AM
AcesFull - 2009-09-14 10:33 AM

TriRSquared - 2009-09-14 10:22 AM
aquagirl - 2009-09-14 11:13 AM Just need to vent. I have somehow effed up my knee. Not sure if its going to turn out to be serious or not. Cannot even get IN to see my Doc until November sometime. Then I have to get on the MRI wait list......which could take another 6 months. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

That is all. Thanks for listening. 


I'm sorry to hear about this, however I think this is an excellent example of why socialized medicine is no all so great.  When I had to have a MRI on my back I was in and had it done within 2 days.

I hope it turns out OK.
I am confident that we can do it better



Perhaps.  But, the Canadian system is not even on the table for discussion.  I am not entirely sure why everyone thinks it is.


Perhaps because Aquagirl is Canadian, and working within the Canadian health care system?

John


I took the statement above to mean that American's can implement the Canadian system better.  I guess I missunderstood and perhaps what was meant was that the American system can get her in faster.  I get that Aquagirl is Canadian, but thanks.  I still stand by the fact that regardless of American or Canadian system it is all location location location.  Just like buying a house.  I lived for 30 years under the Canadian healthcare system and although not perfect and needing some fixing I'll take it any day over the American system as it stands now (living under that system for 10 years).  At least Aquagirl won't get denied treatment once she finally gets in. 

Sure hoping you do manage to get in soon Aquagirl.  Sounds like you have a valid reason to go to a clinc and bypass your dr.  Might get you in faster.  Hope it's something they can fix up with minimal healing time.  Sucks not knowing I am sure.


2009-09-15 9:25 AM
in reply to: #2406391

User image

Master
1327
100010010010025
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
lanceho - 2009-09-14 11:14 PM I tore the meniscus in my right knee on the 1st of this month, had an MRI on the 4th, and have my surgery scheduled for the 21st.  The ONLY reason I have had this done so fast is just like Gearboy said above.  I am an RN and my wife is a Nurse Practitioner that refers to the Ortho doc doing my surgery.

I have a friend with the exact same diagnosis and has been told by his insurance that before they will approve surgery he must first try physical therapy.  US healthcare is already rationed by Insurance companies that dictate to healthcare providers what they will and will not pay for.  At my wifes office there is one person whose job is to basically argue with insurance companies all day so that treatments they feel are apprpriate can be performed


I disagree with this -- a little late to the discussion.  I'm not a doctor, a nurse, nor do I play one on TV.  HOWEVER, I AM a very assertive woman, who after falling down stairs on a Saturday, managed to get a sports med doc appt at the Uni of Michigan Sports Medicine CLinic on Monday AND after emphasizing a planned Half Ironman race "in 3 weeks" an MRI 3 days later.

It's all about approach.  Whether you let THEM tell you what to do or YOU tell them, as the customer, frankly, what you would like. 

A good friend of mine drove home the point quite clearly when his partner was in hospital and was getting no service "I pay less money to stay at a Holiday Inn and get better service"  So when I am dealing with healthcare, that is how I appoach it, I am paying good money.  The providers don't know how my insurance is being paid for, whether it's out of my own pocket or not.  So I demand to get the best care I can.

As for Mr. & Mrs. GearBoy, I might suggest, perhaps, part of the issue is the age of your daughter.  Far too often I hear stories of healthcare overlooking the young becuase they just can't blv anything serious could be plaguing someone otherwise young and healthy.

Edited by travljini 2009-09-15 9:26 AM
2009-09-15 9:31 AM
in reply to: #2406858

User image

Master
1420
1000100100100100
Victoria, BC
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
I agree with the few previous posters that this is not necessarily a "socialized" health plan problem - IMHO it's a problem because of the incompetency of the people running the show.

Remember that Canadian Health Care is all provincial - it's not federal (to a certain extent). I have lived in 4 provinces, and there is a huge difference province to province and region to region. When I lived in Alberta, Sask and Man I never had any problems getting in quickly to see a doctor, I always had adequate and timely care (and my body has been growing funny little cells for a while now, so I have experience in a few different health care systems and several different hospitals). But here in BC, I have faced long wait times and limited care choices.

An example - when I needed my last surgery the ONLY doc here in town who does these things only has clinic hours at the hospital 4 hours/week. Whereas when I lived in Calgary, there was a whole wing of a hospital dedicated to this particular problem and they had 3 doctors working there full-time. Here I waited a year. Calgary I waited a few weeks.

It's just like any other organization. It's poorly run in certain areas in certain places. Management is top-heavy - too many suits that make too much money so there isn't enough to pay the front line workers - which means wait times are long. The provincial governments keep cutting funding - while their own wages rise - which means more docs, nurses, physios, and programs get axed or become more limited, which reflects on patient care.

I'm not defending it per se, it's not a perfect system ... although like Aqua I can't imagine living anywhere else nor can I imagine any other system. BUT ... I see on these threads a lot of people knocking our system, perhaps without fully understanding it. Heck - I don't even fully understand it and I've been dealing with it for 34 years.

Tommy Douglas has got to be rolling in his grave.
2009-09-15 9:52 AM
in reply to: #2407006

User image

Master
2006
2000
Portland, ME
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
SpiritFire - 2009-09-15 9:31 AM I agree with the few previous posters that this is not necessarily a "socialized" health plan problem - IMHO it's a problem because of the incompetency of the people running the show. Remember that Canadian Health Care is all provincial - it's not federal (to a certain extent). I have lived in 4 provinces, and there is a huge difference province to province and region to region. When I lived in Alberta, Sask and Man I never had any problems getting in quickly to see a doctor, I always had adequate and timely care (and my body has been growing funny little cells for a while now, so I have experience in a few different health care systems and several different hospitals). But here in BC, I have faced long wait times and limited care choices. An example - when I needed my last surgery the ONLY doc here in town who does these things only has clinic hours at the hospital 4 hours/week. Whereas when I lived in Calgary, there was a whole wing of a hospital dedicated to this particular problem and they had 3 doctors working there full-time. Here I waited a year. Calgary I waited a few weeks. It's just like any other organization. It's poorly run in certain areas in certain places. Management is top-heavy - too many suits that make too much money so there isn't enough to pay the front line workers - which means wait times are long. The provincial governments keep cutting funding - while their own wages rise - which means more docs, nurses, physios, and programs get axed or become more limited, which reflects on patient care. I'm not defending it per se, it's not a perfect system ... although like Aqua I can't imagine living anywhere else nor can I imagine any other system. BUT ... I see on these threads a lot of people knocking our system, perhaps without fully understanding it. Heck - I don't even fully understand it and I've been dealing with it for 34 years. Tommy Douglas has got to be rolling in his grave.


I'm just wondering why you just didn't go to Calgary instead of waiting in BC for your medical issue?
2009-09-15 10:23 AM
in reply to: #2407006

User image

Champion
7347
5000200010010010025
SRQ, FL
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
SpiritFire - 2009-09-15 10:31 AM I see on these threads a lot of people knocking our system, perhaps without fully understanding it.


I for one, am not knocking the Canadian system.  I just do not want the US to change it's system to be state run and have some of the same issues.

Fun fact:  The city of Pittsburgh has more MRI machines than all of Canada.
2009-09-15 10:33 AM
in reply to: #2406988

User image

Pro
6767
500010005001001002525
the Alabama part of Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
travljini - 2009-09-15 10:25 AM
lanceho - 2009-09-14 11:14 PM I tore the meniscus in my right knee on the 1st of this month, had an MRI on the 4th, and have my surgery scheduled for the 21st.  The ONLY reason I have had this done so fast is just like Gearboy said above.  I am an RN and my wife is a Nurse Practitioner that refers to the Ortho doc doing my surgery.

I have a friend with the exact same diagnosis and has been told by his insurance that before they will approve surgery he must first try physical therapy.  US healthcare is already rationed by Insurance companies that dictate to healthcare providers what they will and will not pay for.  At my wifes office there is one person whose job is to basically argue with insurance companies all day so that treatments they feel are apprpriate can be performed


I disagree with this -- a little late to the discussion.  I'm not a doctor, a nurse, nor do I play one on TV.  HOWEVER, I AM a very assertive woman, who after falling down stairs on a Saturday, managed to get a sports med doc appt at the Uni of Michigan Sports Medicine CLinic on Monday AND after emphasizing a planned Half Ironman race "in 3 weeks" an MRI 3 days later.

It's all about approach.  Whether you let THEM tell you what to do or YOU tell them, as the customer, frankly, what you would like. 

A good friend of mine drove home the point quite clearly when his partner was in hospital and was getting no service "I pay less money to stay at a Holiday Inn and get better service"  So when I am dealing with healthcare, that is how I appoach it, I am paying good money.  The providers don't know how my insurance is being paid for, whether it's out of my own pocket or not.  So I demand to get the best care I can.

As for Mr. & Mrs. Dr. and Dr. GearBoy, I might suggest, perhaps, part of the issue is the age of your daughter.  Far too often I hear stories of healthcare overlooking the young becuase they just can't blv anything serious could be plaguing someone otherwise young and healthy.


Fixed it.  In all seriousness, location and available services are also critical.  You live in Ann Arbor, which has a medical school, which also means it pumps out docs, many of whom will likely be relatively close by.  So it should be pretty much a mecca for health care services.  Our daughter ended up having a problem that she was mostly out of the demographic for (she is neither fat nor forty, though she is female).  But a college age female away from home for the first time presenting to an ER with complaints of severe episodic abdominal pain needs a pregnancy screen to rule out ectopic pregnancy which can be life-threatening. While I am glad to believe she is still pure as the driven snow, I am realistic enough to have told her to go back and get a pregnancy screen and a drug screen, along with the other more usual tests. And a pregnancy screen should be a standard test ordered on any premenopausal female who is not already obviously pregnant, since it may affect diagnosis or treatment. (The test that made the diagnosis, however, very likely would NOT have been done without our pushing for it, since she was not an obvious candidate for the disorder.  In that, your assesment is probably correct. We only knew what to push for because of our own knowledge, and consulting with friends who are internal medicine specialists about possible causes after the labs were finally done). Once the diagnosis was made, my point was there was still a delay of several months if we did not bring her home to actually have the procedure done. After all, at that point, they (and we) knew what the problem (and solution) was. So it was no longer a matter of not believing she could have anything seriously wrong.

Your story illustrates more the "squeeky wheel principle". Still valid, even without having a medical person in the mix of squeeking.


2009-09-15 11:39 AM
in reply to: #2404922

User image

Pro
4828
2000200050010010010025
The Land of Ice and Snow
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
Well let me just say I am happy to have saved 600$$. Got a requisition for an MRI and I took it to my place of employment, a childrens hospital. I have been a nurse there for 24 years, and the radiology department will give preferential treatment to staff. Limped in on my crutches and the tech.....whom I have known for MANY years.....promises to squeeze me in in the next couple of days. I am so incredibly grateful. He is getting home baked triple chocolate chunk cookies as a thank you.  


2009-09-15 11:45 AM
in reply to: #2407074

User image

Master
1420
1000100100100100
Victoria, BC
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
Jackemy - 2009-09-15 7:52 AM

SpiritFire - 2009-09-15 9:31 AM I agree with the few previous posters that this is not necessarily a "socialized" health plan problem - IMHO it's a problem because of the incompetency of the people running the show. Remember that Canadian Health Care is all provincial - it's not federal (to a certain extent). I have lived in 4 provinces, and there is a huge difference province to province and region to region. When I lived in Alberta, Sask and Man I never had any problems getting in quickly to see a doctor, I always had adequate and timely care (and my body has been growing funny little cells for a while now, so I have experience in a few different health care systems and several different hospitals). But here in BC, I have faced long wait times and limited care choices. An example - when I needed my last surgery the ONLY doc here in town who does these things only has clinic hours at the hospital 4 hours/week. Whereas when I lived in Calgary, there was a whole wing of a hospital dedicated to this particular problem and they had 3 doctors working there full-time. Here I waited a year. Calgary I waited a few weeks. It's just like any other organization. It's poorly run in certain areas in certain places. Management is top-heavy - too many suits that make too much money so there isn't enough to pay the front line workers - which means wait times are long. The provincial governments keep cutting funding - while their own wages rise - which means more docs, nurses, physios, and programs get axed or become more limited, which reflects on patient care. I'm not defending it per se, it's not a perfect system ... although like Aqua I can't imagine living anywhere else nor can I imagine any other system. BUT ... I see on these threads a lot of people knocking our system, perhaps without fully understanding it. Heck - I don't even fully understand it and I've been dealing with it for 34 years. Tommy Douglas has got to be rolling in his grave.


I'm just wondering why you just didn't go to Calgary instead of waiting in BC for your medical issue?


Because I live in British Columbia and pay for my health care here - I am no longer covered in Alberta. If I travel and am hurt - yeah they bill back ... but going to another province for a procedure that is funded here ... I have BC health care - not Alberta health care.
2009-09-15 12:23 PM
in reply to: #2407368

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2009-09-15 12:56 PM
in reply to: #2404922

Champion
5376
5000100100100252525
PA
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
Best of luck on your knee Aquagirl! 
2009-09-15 1:39 PM
in reply to: #2407368

Pro
6767
500010005001001002525
the Alabama part of Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
aquagirl - 2009-09-15 12:39 PM Well let me just say I am happy to have saved 600$$. Got a requisition for an MRI and I took it to my place of employment, a childrens hospital. I have been a nurse there for 24 years, and the radiology department will give preferential treatment to staff. Limped in on my crutches and the tech.....whom I have known for MANY years.....promises to squeeze me in in the next couple of days. I am so incredibly grateful. He is getting home baked triple chocolate chunk cookies as a thank you.  




Now THAT'S how to get moved up the queue!  Good luck with the knee!


2009-09-15 1:45 PM
in reply to: #2407368

Champion
7347
5000200010010010025
SRQ, FL
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
aquagirl - 2009-09-15 12:39 PM Well let me just say I am happy to have saved 600$$. Got a requisition for an MRI and I took it to my place of employment, a childrens hospital. I have been a nurse there for 24 years, and the radiology department will give preferential treatment to staff. Limped in on my crutches and the tech.....whom I have known for MANY years.....promises to squeeze me in in the next couple of days. I am so incredibly grateful. He is getting home baked triple chocolate chunk cookies as a thank you.  



Super!
2009-09-15 3:08 PM
in reply to: #2407368

Master
2006
2000
Portland, ME
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
aquagirl - 2009-09-15 11:39 AM Well let me just say I am happy to have saved 600$$. Got a requisition for an MRI and I took it to my place of employment, a childrens hospital. I have been a nurse there for 24 years, and the radiology department will give preferential treatment to staff. Limped in on my crutches and the tech.....whom I have known for MANY years.....promises to squeeze me in in the next couple of days. I am so incredibly grateful. He is getting home baked triple chocolate chunk cookies as a thank you.  




Glad you are going to get your MRI earlier than you expected.

With all due repect, I have curiosity question on the Canadian system as this is a topic of much debate in the US.

Is it only health care professionals that receive preferential treatment and are allowed to skip the public line or are there other professions or specific people that can bypass the line as well? For example do athletes, government officials, or people in certain age groups get special access or do they wait in line like everyone else, except health care professionals?
2009-09-15 4:08 PM
in reply to: #2407914

Pro
4828
2000200050010010010025
The Land of Ice and Snow
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
Jackemy - 2009-09-15 4:08 PM
aquagirl - 2009-09-15 11:39 AM Well let me just say I am happy to have saved 600$$. Got a requisition for an MRI and I took it to my place of employment, a childrens hospital. I have been a nurse there for 24 years, and the radiology department will give preferential treatment to staff. Limped in on my crutches and the tech.....whom I have known for MANY years.....promises to squeeze me in in the next couple of days. I am so incredibly grateful. He is getting home baked triple chocolate chunk cookies as a thank you.  




Glad you are going to get your MRI earlier than you expected.

With all due repect, I have curiosity question on the Canadian system as this is a topic of much debate in the US.

Is it only health care professionals that receive preferential treatment and are allowed to skip the public line or are there other professions or specific people that can bypass the line as well? For example do athletes, government officials, or people in certain age groups get special access or do they wait in line like everyone else, except health care professionals?


Cannot really comment on that as I actually have no idea. I think its probably a matter of who you know. As far as health care professionals getting preferential treatment it is a matter of professional courtesy more than anything else.
2009-09-15 4:34 PM
in reply to: #2408064

Master
2006
2000
Portland, ME
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
aquagirl - 2009-09-15 4:08 PM
Jackemy - 2009-09-15 4:08 PM
aquagirl - 2009-09-15 11:39 AM Well let me just say I am happy to have saved 600$$. Got a requisition for an MRI and I took it to my place of employment, a childrens hospital. I have been a nurse there for 24 years, and the radiology department will give preferential treatment to staff. Limped in on my crutches and the tech.....whom I have known for MANY years.....promises to squeeze me in in the next couple of days. I am so incredibly grateful. He is getting home baked triple chocolate chunk cookies as a thank you.  




Glad you are going to get your MRI earlier than you expected.

With all due repect, I have curiosity question on the Canadian system as this is a topic of much debate in the US.

Is it only health care professionals that receive preferential treatment and are allowed to skip the public line or are there other professions or specific people that can bypass the line as well? For example do athletes, government officials, or people in certain age groups get special access or do they wait in line like everyone else, except health care professionals?


Cannot really comment on that as I actually have no idea. I think its probably a matter of who you know. As far as health care professionals getting preferential treatment it is a matter of professional courtesy more than anything else.


Thank you for answering my question.

BTW, I love triple chocolate chunk cookies!!!
2009-09-15 7:11 PM
in reply to: #2404922

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.


2009-09-18 9:24 AM
in reply to: #2404922

Pro
4828
2000200050010010010025
The Land of Ice and Snow
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
Update: managed to get an MRI yesterday!! And today my Dr Husband ran into the head of musculoskeletal radiology in the hall.....this guy was kind enough to read my MRI right away. Well. I HAVE NO TORN MENISCUS!!!!!!! I do however have a small bakers cyst and evidence of chondromalacia. I will do what ever is necessary to rehab it and then hopefully I will be on my way again!


I am soooooooo incredibly grateful you have no idea. But I am also well aware of the fact that had my husband and I not been healthcare professionals I would be waiting and waiting and waiting............. 
2009-09-18 9:32 AM
in reply to: #2413509

Master
1420
1000100100100100
Victoria, BC
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
Great news! Good luck and happy healing!
2009-09-18 9:34 AM
in reply to: #2408064

Master
4117
20002000100
Toronto
Bronze member
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........

aquagirl - 2009-09-15 5:08 PM
Jackemy - 2009-09-15 4:08 PM
aquagirl - 2009-09-15 11:39 AM Well let me just say I am happy to have saved 600$$. Got a requisition for an MRI and I took it to my place of employment, a childrens hospital. I have been a nurse there for 24 years, and the radiology department will give preferential treatment to staff. Limped in on my crutches and the tech.....whom I have known for MANY years.....promises to squeeze me in in the next couple of days. I am so incredibly grateful. He is getting home baked triple chocolate chunk cookies as a thank you.  




Glad you are going to get your MRI earlier than you expected.

With all due repect, I have curiosity question on the Canadian system as this is a topic of much debate in the US.

Is it only health care professionals that receive preferential treatment and are allowed to skip the public line or are there other professions or specific people that can bypass the line as well? For example do athletes, government officials, or people in certain age groups get special access or do they wait in line like everyone else, except health care professionals?


Cannot really comment on that as I actually have no idea. I think its probably a matter of who you know. As far as health care professionals getting preferential treatment it is a matter of professional courtesy more than anything else.


I don't really know either but I do know in the case of a close family friend and my DF's mother - both diagnosed with cancer both began treatment immediately.  Actually this is true of all the family i've had diagnosed with cancer (sadly, it's not just the two).  There was absolutely no waiting in getting them critical care.  Neither were health professionals nor were they wealthier, influential citizens.  Both passed on but there was no room for questioning that they got everything they needed as soon as possible.

It ain't perfect but i certainly have seen it work ...

2009-09-18 1:47 PM
in reply to: #2413509

Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........

Thanks for sharing Aqua Girl , sounds like good news in the big scheme of things, hope you are back to "full AquaGirl Strength" soon!!

2009-09-18 2:15 PM
in reply to: #2414108

Master
4117
20002000100
Toronto
Bronze member
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
crusevegas - 2009-09-18 2:47 PM

Thanks for sharing Aqua Girl , sounds like good news in the big scheme of things, hope you are back to "full AquaGirl Strength" soon!!



x2 - hope to hear you're back on the road soon!


2009-09-18 9:17 PM
in reply to: #2404922

Champion
6993
50001000500100100100100252525
Chicago, Illinois
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
What I want to know is where can you get a  MRI for $600?  Where I live its $2000 if you have no insurance are out of network.  Even in network its $800.
2009-09-18 9:56 PM
in reply to: #2414754

Pro
4828
2000200050010010010025
The Land of Ice and Snow
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........
chirunner134 - 2009-09-18 10:17 PM What I want to know is where can you get a  MRI for $600?  Where I live its $2000 if you have no insurance are out of network.  Even in network its $800.


Gatineau, Quebec....my brother got one there two weeks ago....675$  . 
2009-09-18 10:05 PM
in reply to: #2414754

Champion
5522
5000500
Frisco, TX
Subject: RE: a healthcare rant.........

chirunner134 - 2009-09-18 9:17 PM What I want to know is where can you get a  MRI for $600?  Where I live its $2000 if you have no insurance are out of network.  Even in network its $800.

If you are actually paying cash and shop around a little, you will be amazed what you can find.  Somehow I think the whole insurance / doctor's rates / reimbursements is a shell game.  The list price for xyz procedure is $2000, however, your insurance company gets a discount to $1000 - you pay your percentage - 70/30 - so you pay 300 and the insurance company pays the other 700.  Meanwhile, if you call and tell them you are paying cash upfront, you can get xyz for $400 or $500 since the dr don't have to wait 90-120 days to get their money.  Meanwhile the insurance premiums make up the difference in what you paid with insurance and without...  The main benefit of insurance the way I see it is that there is an out of pocket max for the year...

New Thread
Other Resources My Cup of Joe » a healthcare rant......... Rss Feed  
 
 
of 3