Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went for a bone scan today. This amazing machine that scans over your body and analyzes bone density. I’m sure it costs millions to develop. Wonderful. But it would be nice if I could go to a doctor who would help me with my constant fatigue and low grade headaches. It’s probably not that complicated of a fix - iron? thyroid hormone tweak? Vitamin d? - but doctors don’t seem capable of helping with symptoms like that.

If your insurance is willing to pay for comprehensive top-to-bottom tests to find out why you are having headaches, I am sure docs will be willing to do it.

I’ve had plenty of tests. That part is easy, and certainly profitable for the medical industry. But I’ve found that if your symptoms fall within standard lab ranges, then you’re fine no matter what symptoms you have. So if your iron is low normal, as example, most doctors will say you’re fine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not perfect, but better than some alternatives. UK does not even offer propofol for colonoscopy, instead using midazolam. That might be fine for some, but I guarantee many would not have their exam without being fully asleep. It would be nice if there was a central database of labs and test results for providers. There is way too much duplication of services.

I think people don't realize how rationed and sparse and also years/decades behind care can be in other countries. My mom in Europe is on a 1st gen inferior med for her medical condition and here we are on a fourth gen med which is much more effective. Every drug takes a very long time to be approved compared to the US. My parents have ONE choice of doctor in their surrounding area they get assigned to, and if they don't like that doctor they cannot switch. They also have to a wait a long time even for GP appointments and specialists much more. So yes, it is very cheap, but also not the best quality care or cutting edge care. As far as colonoscopies, they are not offered at all for screenings. The US is the only country that (to my knowledge) covers that as first line of screening through insurance for over 45. Other countries are through FIT only unless anything is found/specific symptoms.

And to be clear I don't think our system is perfect, especially tying care to insurance through work. There is something very cruel about people needing to work through cancer treatments or lose their insurance.

I'm French and my relatives gave birth in hospitals without air conditioning. That part was shocking to me. They also definitely did not have private rooms for after and spouses weren't allowed to stay.

There's a lot that could be more coordinated about American medicine, but the care is great. Cost is a different issue. The people who want cheap healthcare, likely won't like what cheap healthcare involves. There would be less therapies, less brand name drugs, and more referrals to specialists. I personally think that all ERs should have an urgent care next door. Part of triage would be sending people with ear aches, sore throats, and minor issues there first. ERs should be for heart attacks, major accidents.

The great thing in the US now, and maybe not everyone is aware, is that for things like a sore throat or ear ache there is Walgreens and CVS (and other) minute clinics and you can be seen within 5 minutes for those and have meds in 30 mins. And then if you can't? There is Doctors on Demand on your phone or desktop. All that is all cheap with a copay.

What CVS in the DC area has ever taken only 5 minutes to do anything at all? Complete fiction.

I'm not in DC but in a different metro area and it's always been quick: you can see online which ones have appointments and go there.

I don’t think anyone’s arguing there aren’t places to go to, and even for quick issues. But is this good long term care? No

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went for a bone scan today. This amazing machine that scans over your body and analyzes bone density. I’m sure it costs millions to develop. Wonderful. But it would be nice if I could go to a doctor who would help me with my constant fatigue and low grade headaches. It’s probably not that complicated of a fix - iron? thyroid hormone tweak? Vitamin d? - but doctors don’t seem capable of helping with symptoms like that.

This is the problem. Medical care is great for severe injuries or sudden catastrophic health issues. It’s terrible for chronic low burn conditions. All the doctors know how to do in these chronic situations is prescribe drugs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not perfect, but better than some alternatives. UK does not even offer propofol for colonoscopy, instead using midazolam. That might be fine for some, but I guarantee many would not have their exam without being fully asleep. It would be nice if there was a central database of labs and test results for providers. There is way too much duplication of services.

I think people don't realize how rationed and sparse and also years/decades behind care can be in other countries. My mom in Europe is on a 1st gen inferior med for her medical condition and here we are on a fourth gen med which is much more effective. Every drug takes a very long time to be approved compared to the US. My parents have ONE choice of doctor in their surrounding area they get assigned to, and if they don't like that doctor they cannot switch. They also have to a wait a long time even for GP appointments and specialists much more. So yes, it is very cheap, but also not the best quality care or cutting edge care. As far as colonoscopies, they are not offered at all for screenings. The US is the only country that (to my knowledge) covers that as first line of screening through insurance for over 45. Other countries are through FIT only unless anything is found/specific symptoms.

And to be clear I don't think our system is perfect, especially tying care to insurance through work. There is something very cruel about people needing to work through cancer treatments or lose their insurance.

I'm French and my relatives gave birth in hospitals without air conditioning. That part was shocking to me. They also definitely did not have private rooms for after and spouses weren't allowed to stay.

There's a lot that could be more coordinated about American medicine, but the care is great. Cost is a different issue. The people who want cheap healthcare, likely won't like what cheap healthcare involves. There would be less therapies, less brand name drugs, and more referrals to specialists. I personally think that all ERs should have an urgent care next door. Part of triage would be sending people with ear aches, sore throats, and minor issues there first. ERs should be for heart attacks, major accidents.

The great thing in the US now, and maybe not everyone is aware, is that for things like a sore throat or ear ache there is Walgreens and CVS (and other) minute clinics and you can be seen within 5 minutes for those and have meds in 30 mins. And then if you can't? There is Doctors on Demand on your phone or desktop. All that is all cheap with a copay.

What CVS in the DC area has ever taken only 5 minutes to do anything at all? Complete fiction.

I'm not in DC but in a different metro area and it's always been quick: you can see online which ones have appointments and go there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not perfect, but better than some alternatives. UK does not even offer propofol for colonoscopy, instead using midazolam. That might be fine for some, but I guarantee many would not have their exam without being fully asleep. It would be nice if there was a central database of labs and test results for providers. There is way too much duplication of services.

I think people don't realize how rationed and sparse and also years/decades behind care can be in other countries. My mom in Europe is on a 1st gen inferior med for her medical condition and here we are on a fourth gen med which is much more effective. Every drug takes a very long time to be approved compared to the US. My parents have ONE choice of doctor in their surrounding area they get assigned to, and if they don't like that doctor they cannot switch. They also have to a wait a long time even for GP appointments and specialists much more. So yes, it is very cheap, but also not the best quality care or cutting edge care. As far as colonoscopies, they are not offered at all for screenings. The US is the only country that (to my knowledge) covers that as first line of screening through insurance for over 45. Other countries are through FIT only unless anything is found/specific symptoms.

And to be clear I don't think our system is perfect, especially tying care to insurance through work. There is something very cruel about people needing to work through cancer treatments or lose their insurance.

I'm French and my relatives gave birth in hospitals without air conditioning. That part was shocking to me. They also definitely did not have private rooms for after and spouses weren't allowed to stay.

There's a lot that could be more coordinated about American medicine, but the care is great. Cost is a different issue. The people who want cheap healthcare, likely won't like what cheap healthcare involves. There would be less therapies, less brand name drugs, and more referrals to specialists. I personally think that all ERs should have an urgent care next door. Part of triage would be sending people with ear aches, sore throats, and minor issues there first. ERs should be for heart attacks, major accidents.

The great thing in the US now, and maybe not everyone is aware, is that for things like a sore throat or ear ache there is Walgreens and CVS (and other) minute clinics and you can be seen within 5 minutes for those and have meds in 30 mins. And then if you can't? There is Doctors on Demand on your phone or desktop. All that is all cheap with a copay.

What CVS in the DC area has ever taken only 5 minutes to do anything at all? Complete fiction.