America's Health Care

Aug 18, 2009 17:37

Research essay I did on America's health care problems. Constructive criticism welcome and appreciated.

America's Health Care: Plans, Policies, and Profits
H.L. Mencken claimed that there is a “simple, elegant, and wrong" solution for every problem (Tanner "Universal Healthcare..."). Today that solution appears to be providing universal health care ( Read more... )

britain, government, rationing, sweden, health, demand, canada, shortages, economics, obama, france, universal health care, incentives, england, economy, health care, supply, switzerland

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cruorvylkas August 19 2009, 07:41:06 UTC
Hoboy.

Ok. Being Canadian, and a worker in the Health Care profession, I have an insider in how things work.

I will, up front, admit that the system we have in Canada could be more efficient, and there is some who think two tier medical care should be an option. I waver on the edge of agreement, depending on how the case is presented.

I see abuse in our system every day (or night since I work night shift). People coming into the Emergency department for being drunk, for the flu they've had for months, for the sore throat they've had a week and so on is a waste. It costs Medicare for every time you register. Just last night there was a lady who left pissed because she "only wanted ten minutes of the doctors time to ask questions", but the doctor was busy with other patients. To me, that lady wasted our time and my cash with her "questions" she could have asked her regular doctor. And despite her saying "Don't charge"; sorry, it automatically happens ( ... )

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cruorvylkas August 19 2009, 07:58:47 UTC
But, on the other hand...

Many Canadians, although we complain about our Health Care (and we do; it's just one of our things, just like how we complain about the US ;D ) many of us would not change it for anything in the world, except try to make it more efficient and less costly.

Surgeries are based on a "Medically Required" need; for those that are Medically Required (MR), there is no payment that the patient must offer up. So if you need a Colonoscopy, or Arthroscopy, Herniorrhaphy and so on, it is "Free". These are performed as a Day Surgery and the patient is in and out in the same day. Complications that might come from any surgery are sent off to a larger, better facility (if the patient has heart troubles or is diabetic or overweight, for example). But for surgeries Not Medically Required (NMR) the patient does have to pay. Certain plastic surgeries are NMR and the patient can pay before or after the surgery, depending on the doctor ( ... )

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cruorvylkas August 19 2009, 08:05:57 UTC
(sorry for the uber long post... last part, I promise. :|)

Honestly, I think that no matter what country you live in, there will be "problems" with Health Care. The US has good doctors and good Health Care, don't get me wrong, and there are some Canadians that do go south, and pay out of their pocket for it. But that is their choice. If they wish, they don't have to do so, but some people just want US health care anyway ( ... )

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cruithear_lorr August 20 2009, 01:26:26 UTC
I figured you'd be able to give me some pointers, and long posts psh... have you seen some of mine ( ... )

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cruorvylkas August 20 2009, 06:41:30 UTC
But I didn't realize I'd say so much. :P Seriously though, I love discussing things with you since it's never dull/boring/unintelligent ( ... )

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cruorvylkas August 20 2009, 06:41:49 UTC
In the end, for myself, I'd like to see a charge of five or ten bucks for every Medicare/Health Card issued to people. The cards are all being worked towards being renewable after a period of three to five years, like your license. If everyone paid five or ten bucks at registration, all that cash could go (and should) directly into Health Care; all of it, no penny going elsewhere. And personally, if your case isn't considered an emergency and you go to the ER in the "off hours" (usually 11-7 or something like that), then you should be charged a small fee for wasting the time of the nurse, doctor and so on. That might help set off some of the costs.

I also saw a cool video too about the health care debate, that brings up the question why Wal-Mart can get four dollar perscriptions. Look on MSNBC and Joe Scarborough's show Morning Joe for the interview with Anthony Weiner.

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cruithear_lorr August 20 2009, 20:14:04 UTC
I understood what you meant, especially considering how long the essay is, haha. Kind of a three-part essay. From how long I've known you, it's been my experience that you are usually easy-going until you have a good reason to get mad.

I agree that people who abuse the system should be charged a fee. That makes sense. I did read that statistics about health care differs hugely in different parts of Canada. I'll check out that Weiner interview tonight.

One of the serious/"elective" problems I mentioned I got from this documentary:

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cruorvylkas August 21 2009, 00:39:17 UTC
Interesting documentry ( ... )

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cruithear_lorr August 21 2009, 00:47:32 UTC
I love that reporter, John Stossell. He often goes against the grain and digs into public issues like that. He does report about how universal health care in other nations isn't the best alternative, but he also shows why the U.S. health care isn't working well either and he usually shows both sides of the argument. That's one reason why Michael Moore is there arguing against him.

I learned in Economics that the more centralized a government becomes, even state or local governments, the worse it makes the situation. When left up to individuals and their companies, everything works pretty well because each person specializes and knows how to run their own business better and more efficiently that the government.

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cruorvylkas August 24 2009, 14:20:34 UTC
At least he shows why the US system doesn't work either. That's one reason I would not have an issue with someone like that.

And, I saw this on another blog and figured you'd like this.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/21/AR2009082101778.html

Five myths about "Foreign" Health Care systems, including Canada. Even surprised me. If these are true - and for the Canadian one, I'm pretty sure it is - then... really, it makes sense why the US sytem sucks.

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cruithear_lorr August 24 2009, 15:52:43 UTC
This is an interesting article. I'm going to have to do more research and add to my original essay. Thanks for posting this link!

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cruorvylkas August 25 2009, 00:32:53 UTC
No problem. I thought you'd like it and would make a good addition to the article.

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