Anonymous wrote:Let’s be honest: most docs trained in the last few decades don’t know what they are hearing through a stethoscope unless the diagnosis is “death.”

We have a problem here and it’s a lot bigger than in-person visit availability.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I agree with you. For what we pay in insurance costs and out-of-pocket costs, it feels like we get such poor quality of care. And maybe it's wrong of me, but it feels like such a money grab sometimes. I never know what question at an appointment will get the visit billed differently so there's a $$ co-pay, and it varies with different providers.

Then you have misplaced anger. Your problem is with the insurance companies.

I think this is another reason docs are jumping ship. Patients take out their anger on them when it should be directed towards insurance companies. Patients are paying insurance companies more, insurance companies are paying doctors less plus they’re requiring loads of additional paperwork and complicated billing structures for basic care.

Doctors are not allowed to unionize, they cannot demand that the government reign in the unethical insurance companies, they could not demand PPE during the pandemic, they have to work inflexible schedules with less and less staff and money.

Young docs don’t start working until they’re almost 30, missing out on years of earnings and savings, then they’re saddled with debt.

-not a doctor but my best friend is and I’ve witnessed first hand how these past few years have impacted her life.

Doctors can unionize. And those in private practice ultimately decide what insurance they'll accept.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I agree with you. For what we pay in insurance costs and out-of-pocket costs, it feels like we get such poor quality of care. And maybe it's wrong of me, but it feels like such a money grab sometimes. I never know what question at an appointment will get the visit billed differently so there's a $$ co-pay, and it varies with different providers.

Then you have misplaced anger. Your problem is with the insurance companies.

I think this is another reason docs are jumping ship. Patients take out their anger on them when it should be directed towards insurance companies. Patients are paying insurance companies more, insurance companies are paying doctors less plus they’re requiring loads of additional paperwork and complicated billing structures for basic care.

Doctors are not allowed to unionize, they cannot demand that the government reign in the unethical insurance companies, they could not demand PPE during the pandemic, they have to work inflexible schedules with less and less staff and money.

Young docs don’t start working until they’re almost 30, missing out on years of earnings and savings, then they’re saddled with debt.

-not a doctor but my best friend is and I’ve witnessed first hand how these past few years have impacted her life.

I feel sorry for the sick and poor in rural areas. We have it pretty good in the DMV compared to most areas.

Mine are in the office.

I’m having a better and different experience than you, OP.

My endocrinologist saw me in person. He offered me a virtual visit when he found out I drive an hour each way to see him. I welcomed that. I called for a refill request. No problem.

My GP saw me in person, and I can send refill requests through the secure website, which saves me time.

I saw a GI and I drove a bit further to see someone sooner but the experience was excellent. They ran on time and got me the help I needed.

Getting an MRI was hard. I had to wait and that delayed me getting care for a time-sensitive issue. I wonder if I should have tried going through the ER, since they consider my issue a medical emergency.

I saw another specialist and it IS hard tog et appointments but they squeezed me in due to the time sensitivity, so maybe I was “lucky” with regards to that.

That said, my previous GI was not available until February 2024, so I found a new one.

One type of appointment I need was not available until July. The doctor said tints turn in 2 weeks! Then the scheduler said no availability until said August. Then, suddenly, mid-June worked if I got a test done at a different practice. So you also have to gently ask questions and ask for options or most desk people won’t think to tell you about them.

Anonymous wrote:Was healthcare not for profit in the 80s and 90s?

I’m not sure what has changed. Some will say it’s because of the ACA, but before that some people couldn’t get health coverage at all, and were excluded from insurance because of pre-existing conditions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t trust any Doctor Who is younger than 50

?

Not even ...



?

Was healthcare not for profit in the 80s and 90s?

Anonymous wrote:OP, I agree with you. For what we pay in insurance costs and out-of-pocket costs, it feels like we get such poor quality of care. And maybe it's wrong of me, but it feels like such a money grab sometimes. I never know what question at an appointment will get the visit billed differently so there's a $$ co-pay, and it varies with different providers.

For-profit health care! Woo hoo!

A bunch of the groups like Chesapeake urology have been bought and run by robber Barrons.

Capitalism at its finest.

OP, I agree with you. For what we pay in insurance costs and out-of-pocket costs, it feels like we get such poor quality of care. And maybe it's wrong of me, but it feels like such a money grab sometimes. I never know what question at an appointment will get the visit billed differently so there's a $$ co-pay, and it varies with different providers.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t trust any Doctor Who is younger than 50

?

Not even ...



?

I don’t trust any Doctor Who is younger than 50

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s be honest: most docs trained in the last few decades don’t know what they are hearing through a stethoscope unless the diagnosis is “death.”

We have a problem here and it’s a lot bigger than in-person visit availability.

Anonymous wrote:1000000% well said.

Well, then, not having access to them is no harm to the two of you. Excellent!

No harm, no foul.

Oh, it’s plenty of harm. They can’t diagnose abnormal heart sounds via stethoscopes, but they sure as God made little green apples can send you for a merry-go-round of defensive testing that costs $$$, does not improve care, and clogs up the system for people who really need it and could benefit from it—despite the practice of the physical exam being this deteriorated. It’s a problem for everyone using the health care system. And that means all of us.

Hey, try reading.

Anonymous wrote:1000000% well said.

Well, then, not having access to them is no harm to the two of you. Excellent!

No harm, no foul.