Is anyone one a little concerned that the new healthcare reform could hurt you more than help you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The Swiss have a similar system to our new one and they are not floundering and it has not caused catastrophic economic collapse or rationing of health care. They do not have death panels just a requirement for all citizens to have health insurance and subsidies for those in need.

No, not at all similiar: In Switzerland people don't sue everyone and anyone for no reason, and you can tell people that show up to the door of the ER in the middle of the night for a chronic problem to come back in the morning (as an example) or go to their primary doctor.
(actually people know this, and will not come to the ER with non-emergencies in the first place - imagine that!)

In the US we have FEDERAL Laws against this - anyone and everyone must be seen and worked up until determined that there is no possibility of danger in the immediate future! (... and if that's not enough we have hordes of lawyers ready to pounce for any occasion)

Also in Switzerland you will have more of a watch and wait approach for many problems (repeat exams in lieu of immediate imaging), instead of the "CT/MRI now" mentality in the US. The American Way is much more expensive. Not even mentioning many of the other differences in attitudes... (I am fairly sure that Switzerland is lacking the thousands! of people complaining of emergent pain conditions requiring -as mentioned, due to federal law and legal climate- expensive investigations each! time, that turn out to be narcotic seeking ... )

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I don't believe that all doctors have this kind of memory. (I lived with a doctor for several years, and she couldn't remember how to use the coffeemaker.) Good for you (and your patients) if you do.

ROFL!!! Well, as long as she could resuscitate you, maybe you'll forgive her for not remembering how to use the coffeemaker!!! LOL!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm worried that if more people get health insurance, they will start going to see doctors more and trying to get more access to health care. Good for them, of course, but we're going to need more doctors or else waiting times will get longer. especially if you want to switch to a new doctor.

Of course, it may mean less time in the emergency room when you have a true pediatric emergency because there won't be a guy ahead of you with the sniffles who decided to come ot the ER because he doesn't have a primary care physician because he lacks health insurance.

Actually we will likely all spend MORE time in the ER because they will be inundated by newly insured patients who want to see a physician but can't find primary care physicians to see them. As a physician, every physician I know is wondering who the heck is going to take care of the newly insured? And this is the hot topic in the editorial sections of most journals and on physician geared websites/message boards. Most hospitals are prepping for a deluge of new ER patients.

I just read an article this morning either on NYT or WaPo that young doctors were signing up to work at hospitals and clinics but this was not a result of the recent healthcare legislation. Among the things the junior docs were looking for were more predictable hours.

I'm not too worried about it. When new policies,laws get implemented, new solutions get introduced and we adapt. New and more efficient clinics rather than hospitals will be built; the clinics can even be mobile. We'll get there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm not too worried about it. When new policies,laws get implemented, new solutions get introduced and we adapt. New and more efficient clinics rather than hospitals will be built; the clinics can even be mobile. We'll get there.

If the tea-baggers don't smash the windows out of all the ERs and doctors offices before they have a chance to adapt. (I know, right not the tea-baggers are just smashing Democratic offices, but they'll eventually run out of those and will have to turn their tea-baggery anger somewhere else.)

[Anonymous]

"Hmmm, foreign doctors are not staying in many cases because they cannot do so legally, immigration is very difficult for them; they are coming here on certain visas that have set expiration dates and cannot be extended. I have seen multiple talented doctors leave the country that would have considered staying had it been possible. I'm not sure whether it is planned to change immigration laws for doctors..."

The situation Jeff was talking about relates to a SHORTAGE of skills. When there is a shortage of skills, you can get a visa. Think IT bubble in the 90s and how H1 visas were being given quickly to certain people from India and China (because they were providing people with the necessary skills).