Is The Medical System Broken?

[Aneeda72]

Actually, GP's did not make a lot of money during Covid. My younger brother who is a GP, because of social distancing at the time, was required to deal with medical problems on the phone or with a zoom apt. He was paid half of what an in-person apt. would cost per hour. He did see some patients in-person of course, as some medical issues cannot be fully examined on the phone or in a zoom apt.

And also I don't think unless you know someone who is a doctor personally, how much work they actually do. My brother would work during the day seeing patients, but more often than not, he stays at the office until 11:00 pm, sometimes midnight to complete his paperwork. Also doctors have additional costs, once they are doctors, for example malpractice insurance, etc.

And again, do not generalize please, as my younger brother did not become a family doctor because he's in it for the money. He actually has Diabetes Type 1 and has had to take insulin every day of his life. He specializes in diabetic care for many of his patients. This is why he wanted to become a doctor.

Some did make a lot of money, some didn’t as you said, don’t generalize.

Long hours at work are not limited to doctors. But doctors, nurses etc. are not heroes. A hero runs into a burning building, a hero is known by an individual act of courage. A hero is not a doctor or nurse who covers themselves head to toe in an “space suit”, walks into a Covid unit to do their job, and scares the crap out of a disabled adult.

 

[Vida May]

I think what you said maybe more than your opinion. You mentioned a few facts. It is the Chinese you know. "May you live in interesting times". Especially today is an interesting time. I am afraid to turn my TV on.

 

[Vida May]

Actually, GP's did not make a lot of money during Covid. My younger brother who is a GP, because of social distancing at the time, was required to deal with medical problems on the phone or with a zoom apt. He was paid half of what an in-person apt. would cost per hour. He did see some patients in-person of course, as some medical issues cannot be fully examined on the phone or in a zoom apt.

And also I don't think unless you know someone who is a doctor personally, how much work they actually do. My brother would work during the day seeing patients, but more often than not, he stays at the office until 11:00 pm, sometimes midnight to complete his paperwork. Also doctors have additional costs, once they are doctors, for example malpractice insurance, etc.

And again, do not generalize please, as my younger brother did not become a family doctor because he's in it for the money. He actually has Diabetes Type 1 and has had to take insulin every day of his life. He specializes in diabetic care for many of his patients. This is why he wanted to become a doctor.

Thank you for those facts. It was a great lesson on how our thinking is stinking and making things much worse than they are because things are nowhere near as bad as some people think. Many caring people are doing the right thing for the right reason.

 

[Vida May]

Some did make a lot of money, some didn’t as you said, don’t generalize.

Long hours at work are not limited to doctors. But doctors, nurses etc. are not heroes. A hero runs into a burning building, a hero is known by an individual act of courage. A hero is not a doctor or nurse who covers themselves head to toe in an “space suit”, walks into a Covid unit to do their job, and scares the crap out of a disabled adult.

Well how long have you worked in a hospital or nursing home? On what are you basing your opinion?

 

[HermitHogan]

The medical system exists for profit, as does almost everything in the U.S. Money is all that matters, and if you don't have it, you're not going to get good healthcare.

 

[Vida May]

Just another sickening negative symptom of excessive homo sapien OVERPOPULATION in an economic oriented materialistic world of widening haves and have nots, led by Wall Street real estate and financial corporations and warmongering neocons using their puppet politicians and news media, embracing the insanity of never ending growth, development, and warring.

...In your head,
in your head they are dying
In your head
In your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie,
ei, ei
What's in your head?
In your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie
ei, ei, ei, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ei ei oh...

Politics in a democracy is a way of uniting people to discuss the issues and what needs to change but we are not making the system work. How many have been to city, county, and state public hearings or participated in neighborhood associations? I have on occasion but it has been a long time. I rarely got involved when I had small children, except volunteering at a school.

When I am working for pay, that takes all my energy so I don't get involved. There are so many reasons for hiding under my bed and doing nothing and a large population is one of them. In a city, there are so many people we are strangers to each other and a public hearing leaves us maybe 2 minutes to speak about complex problems and that is not enough when we need interactive discussions.

 

[Alizerine]

I am aware of several people who lost their life savings in the last years of their lives due to the high cost of out-of-home medical care. I was hopeful of the possibility of having Medicare handle in-home care. I guess that is no longer a priority.

 

[Vida May]

The medical system exists for profit, as does almost everything in the U.S. Money is all that matters, and if you don't have it, you're not going to get good healthcare.

That was not always true. However, following WWII people in the US were paranoid, and medical schools rejected all the young men and women who wanted to enter medicine for idealist reasons. The nation systematically selected those who going into medicine for the money. Then insurance companies saw an opportunity to make a profit. And like a row of dominos in a line on the floor, education and institutions were about money, not the ideals that once upon a time moved us.

However, in the '60s idealism was high and from the federal level to local charitable people we got housing for seniors, nutrition sites, senior centers and much more. Look up the Older Americans Act if you are interested.

Knowing what was and what is, hurts my heart. I lived in an apartment complex that was built especially for seniors and had several rooms for socializing, many apple trees, and nice-sized apartments that were very affordable. Until the man who built them died and the apartments were sold to those who wanted a profit. The new owners ruined everything including our close community of seniors who took care of each other.

 

[Vida May]

I am aware of several people who lost their life savings in the last years of their lives due to the high cost of out-of-home medical care. I was hopeful of the possibility of having Medicare handle in-home care. I guess that is no longer a priority.

Yes, you better get to the gym and make yourself as fit as you can because there is not enough money to cover in-home care, even though this is less expensive than institutionalizing people. Even if there were enough money, I am not sure we have enough people willing to do the work. If you personally have enough money you can hire in-home help, if your community has enough people willing to do the work.

 

[LoveTulips]

Some did make a lot of money, some didn’t as you said, don’t generalize.

Long hours at work are not limited to doctors. But doctors, nurses etc. are not heroes. A hero runs into a burning building, a hero is known by an individual act of courage. A hero is not a doctor or nurse who covers themselves head to toe in an “space suit”, walks into a Covid unit to do their job, and scares the crap out of a disabled adult.

Well, what did you expect them to do, not wear any protection during covid?? And why would the disabled adult be scared unless they are mentally disabled and didn't realize that covid was going on at the time? And if so, that is not the doctors' fault. It sounds like you are prejudiced against doctors for some reason.

 

[Twostep]

This thread, like many threads, seemed to drift all over. The subject was about if our medical system is broken.

Nope.

The medical system works excellently-for the very rich, or politicians, or actors, or anyone in the upper class. While I can only speak for the USA, I assume the King of England doesn’t wait 6 months to see a doctor. That Putin is well cared for, as are all dictators.

Back to the USA, The medical system also works fine for the upper middle class, and the middle class; those with jobs which come with medical plans. Surprisingly it works well for a majority of the very poor; those with both Medicare and Medicaid. Even the homeless can walk into any hospital and get seen.

It works well for disabled veterans; better in some places, than others. Medical care is free for those with 50% disability and above.

In rural communities, it does not work well because hospitals, doctors, and nurses etc. don’t choose to live rural. If you do, than that was your lifestyle choice and your problem.

In Utah, we have primary care doctors w/appointments, doctors via video chat, walk in clinics, and hospital ERs. The problem isn’t a lack of medical resources, it’s the stupidity of patients. People, with colds, a cut finger, a broken toe who go to the ER, clogging it up. Our hospitals triage. Mr broken toe is going to wait a long time. Mrs chest pain is not.

Specialists are an issue. There is often a long waiting time for specialists. It’s over dramatic to say you are going to die while waiting for a specialists. That would happen only if you are too stubborn to go back to a different medical source, such as the ER if you were getting sicker.

If you were getting sicker, went to the ER, waited 8 hours or 8 days, eventually you would be seen and receive the appropriate medical treatment, and probably not die unless death was your destination despite the best medical care. People do have to die.

If you have such a sense of entitlement that you can not be bothered to wait in an ER, and choose to go home instead, well, that’s your decision. If you make that decision, then you are not sick enough to be in an ER anyway. IMO.

Medical personnel are not heroes. They are workers, like everyone else, and in it to make money. They made a LOT of money during Covid, with those extra shifts. They’ve got nothing to complain about.

Now that is a bit to chew on.

 

[Twostep]

The medical system exists for profit, as does almost everything in the U.S. Money is all that matters, and if you don't have it, you're not going to get good healthcare.

I disagree. We may be in fly over country but medical care is superb.