Why do they call it "health CARE" when no one gives a flip?

[Blondie]

The less I see of doctors, the better I like it..

You and me both! I only go if I'm extreme pain or I have a condition that's lasted more than a month. When I finally went to the doctor about my knee, I was walking around in pain for almost 4 months! I thought and hoped it would go away!

I think nursing is one of the most underpaid and overworked careers out there. My hats are off to those who give their all and really do care about their patients.

 

[C.Ann]

I think nursing is one of the most underpaid and overworked careers out there. My hats are off to those who give their all and really do care about their patients.

---------------------

I just wish that some doctors would pay a little more attention to what their nurses have to say (and no, I'm not a nurse).. I've seen many a time when a nurse picked up on something regarding a patient long before the doctor did..

I agree - good nurses are underpaid and overworked - and I really wish they received a little more respect from the doctors..

 

[BelleMcNally]

---------------------

I just wish that some doctors would pay a little more attention to what their nurses have to say (and no, I'm not a nurse).. I've seen many a time when a nurse picked up on something regarding a patient long before the doctor did..

I agree - good nurses are underpaid and overworked - and I really wish they received a little more respect from the doctors..

I think this attitude is starting to change in younger doctors--at least in my co-workers and classmates. As doctors keep getting the relentless push to "Go faster! See more patients! Get more done in less time!" they are having to rely more and more on highly skilled nurses, and they understand how priceless they are in the medical field...

Now, it might just be that my friends and I are an exception to the rule, but I'd like to think the prevalent attitude is changing among physicians...

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

I work for an HMO and I’ve come to appreciate plans that:

* Provide 100% coverage for preventive care. Our customers are obviously better off if they’re getting regular physicals, screenings, etc… It also make a lot of sense for an HMO to catch/treat illness in it’s early stages when it is less expensive to treat.

* Assign coinsurance rather than flat dollar copays for most other services. If our customers are paying a flat $15 copay for everything, they’ll ask for the $750 MRI over the $150 x-ray every time, but if they’re paying 20% coinsurance, it makes them a more responsible consumer! I think plans with coinsurance should ideally have reasonable out-of-pocket maximums, so your 20% doesn’t get out of hand!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

----------------------------


I know of one person in particular that runs to the doctor for every little sniffle and INSISTS on getting an antibiotic.. I feel vey sorry for that woman because there may come a day when she really needs one - to save her life - and it's not going to work because she has abused them for so many years..

The less I see of doctors, the better I like it..

It is so ingrained in me to take antibiotics ONLY when necessary and only for as long as necessary that when we went to the vet for my kitty who's paw wound got reinfected--when vet suggested a stronger antibiotic and then an even stronger one--adn then for him to stay on it twice as long I questioned it. Yes it is necessary for my kitty as he has FIV (like HIV in humans)--but I didn't want him to develop resistance. I think I was stretching it a bit here. Not like there is a feline black market to get an antibiotic for every little thing.


Blondie--when I finally had my knee checked out--I had the imminent problem for 4 months---but had the actual problem for more than 15 years. Luckily I did wait though--15 years ago..they didn't do anything about it.

 

[Disney Doll]

Oh boy C.Ann!!!! Do I know a few "frequent flyers"!!!!!!!!!

The problem with a frequent flyer is that the one time you say "Oh, they are a hypochondriacal nutcase" is going to be the one time they are really sick. And you may miss it initially because you are working from the "this person is a nut" premise.

I can relate a personal story...shortly after my DMIL died, I developed a "stomach" issue that just wouldn't go away. For 3 months, every time I ate something more than Powerade and saltines, the bathroom became my best friend!!!!! Now, there was a resultant 30 lb.weight loss (the silver lining to the cloud! )which was not an issue for me because, God knows, I could spare 30 lbs., and then some!!!!!! I had the million $$ GI work-up, but the problem was, I'd have the work-up after eating nothing but saltines and Powerade, so naturally the GI system was "calm"...there was very little in it!!!!! If I tried to eat something a bit more filling (and I am talking about chicken soup here, not lasagna), off it woud go again. I'd call the doctor, he'd tell me to do clear liquids and bland food and he'd schedule yet another GI exam, which I would have 2 weeks later (the first appointment that they could fit me in) and, of course, it would be fine because I'd been eating nothing but Powerade and saltines for 2 weeks.

I am the furthest thing from a hypochondriac...most nurses are because we don't want to deal with the healthcare system that we are so familiar with. I can only assume that I had irritable bowel syndrome which took it's time settling down, because none of the tests ever showed anything. But then you get the proverbial questions... "Are you under stress? Is anything bothering you? Is your marriage OK?"...you know, the "hinting" that maybe it's "in your head". At the time this occurred, I was not under stress (it was gone when DMIL died as we had been caring for her), nothing was bothering me, and my DH was (and still is) a gem!!!!!! I am sure I was being considered a "frequent flyer" in my doc's office for a while there, so you know what? I just stopped calling him. I ate what I ate, I lost a bit more weight, I s-l-o-w-l-y reintroduced very small amounts of food into my diet (I am talking literally a spoonful at a time) and things normalized over the course of 6 months. Whatever it is still flares up every once in a while, but I recognize when it's starting and I back off the food for a few days till it settles down.

It's a tough business, healthcare. When you help someone, you're the best. When you can't help someone, you're the worst. Even if they are their own worst enemy, it still becomes all your fault!

 

[C.Ann]

Oh boy C.Ann!!!! Do I know a few "frequent flyers"!!!!!!!!!

The problem with a frequent flyer is that the one time you say "Oh, they are a hypochondriacal nutcase" is going to be the one time they are really sick. And you may miss it initially because you are working from the "this person is a nut" premise.

I can relate a personal story...shortly after my DMIL died, I developed a "stomach" issue that just wouldn't go away. For 3 months, every time I ate something more than Powerade and saltines, the bathroom became my best friend!!!!! Now, there was a resultant 30 lb.weight loss (the silver lining to the cloud! )which was not an issue for me because, God knows, I could spare 30 lbs., and then some!!!!!! I had the million $$ GI work-up, but the problem was, I'd have the work-up after eating nothing but saltines and Powerade, so naturally the GI system was "calm"...there was very little in it!!!!! If I tried to eat something a bit more filling (and I am talking about chicken soup here, not lasagna), off it woud go again. I'd call the doctor, he'd tell me to do clear liquids and bland food and he'd schedule yet another GI exam, which I would have 2 weeks later (the first appointment that they could fit me in) and, of course, it would be fine because I'd been eating nothing but Powerade and saltines for 2 weeks.

I am the furthest thing from a hypochondriac...most nurses are because we don't want to deal with the healthcare system that we are so familiar with. I can only assume that I had irritable bowel syndrome which took it's time settling down, because none of the tests ever showed anything. But then you get the proverbial questions... "Are you under stress? Is anything bothering you? Is your marriage OK?"...you know, the "hinting" that maybe it's "in your head". At the time this occurred, I was not under stress (it was gone when DMIL died as we had been caring for her), nothing was bothering me, and my DH was (and still is) a gem!!!!!! I am sure I was being considered a "frequent flyer" in my doc's office for a while there, so you know what? I just stopped calling him. I ate what I ate, I lost a bit more weight, I s-l-o-w-l-y reintroduced very small amounts of food into my diet (I am talking literally a spoonful at a time) and things normalized over the course of 6 months. Whatever it is still flares up every once in a while, but I recognize when it's starting and I back off the food for a few days till it settles down.

It's a tough business, healthcare. When you help someone, you're the best. When you can't help someone, you're the worst. Even if they are their own worst enemy, it still becomes all your fault!

------------------------------

Ah ha! I am all too familiar with the IBS and all the tests that go with it.. When I first developed the problem they ran me ragged with tests (this was years ago) and in the end announced that they found no problems so it "must be IBS".. Okay - I'm good with that..

Over the years it has flared up now and then - usually do to stress - sometimes due to what I've been eating.. Ironically, after my DH passed away last year, my IBS pretty much disappeared.. Then this past January I sold my house; February I closed on it; late Feb. my DD and her DH put in an offer on another house and it was accepted, so that means we have to get this one sold and move on out; early March I bought a 2005 mini van (because I had no transportation since last Nov.); March 10th my DD was involved in a car accident and is unable to work for who-knows-how-long; and DD is also involved in litigation with a hospital and doctor over another matter.. Well guess what has come back to "visit"?? Yup! The IBS!! Am I going to the doctors and going through a ton of tests again? Nope.. When and if I feel there's something "different" going on with my body I will, but until then - no expensive tests for me!

You're right - sometimes it's a "no win" situation..

 

[Syrreal]

And according to a study I read recently, our standard of care isn't even that great! I used to think our health care was so expensive because it was better, but apparently that's not true.

I will agree with that. A few weeks ago while vacationing in Canada, DH and I got our fill of the healthcare system there. I had gotten sick before we went on vacation and ended up with a severe sinus infection on the 2nd day we were there (so bad that, if I could have, I would have clawed my face off). So we went to a walk-in clinic that was close to our hotel. I was seen in less than 20 minutes with no appointment and in the middle of the day. I did have to pay some (as we aren't canadian) but it was less than I have paid to go to the Dr. here in the US (when I didn't have insurance- I just recently was able to get private insurance and the one at my job is more about doing just enough so that the patient doesn't die- but I digress). Anyway, after a thorough examination I was prescribed an antibiotic and a otc decongestant. A few days later my dh broke his ribs while snowboarding and a few days later we went to the ER (he didn't think it was bad until he went snowbiking and the pain became too much). We were shown in to see a dr. in under 15 minutes (and that includes filling out paperwork) and it was also significantly less expensive than an emergency room and we were out of there in 2 hours +/-. At the time, they diagnosed the broken ribs, gave medication to take the edge off, and we came home.
Two days later he coughed and felt something pop so we went to the ER here. It was 3pm when we got to the ER. They did not see us until after 8pm. They finished running tests (xray, mri) by 11:45 and he was not discharged until after 5am.
I am not saying that Canada's system is better or worse. I just think we need some kind of reform.

I have issues w/ Ins companies too. Like the fact that it is costing a lot for me and dh (2 healthy young people) to have private insurance. But also the fact that the only insurance co around here that has a maternity option does not offer it on single contracts. That's discrimination in my book. Who are they to tell a single woman that she cannot have maternity coverage on her insurance for herself because she is not married. It makes me furious!