[Grace Oz]

I've just finished watching the Michael Moore movie; "Sicko".

While I appreciate that documentaries often inflate the facts in order to garner reactions, if indeed what was presented is factual, this film confirms my understanding of the American health industry.

It's expensive. It's shameful. It's unnecessary for it to be as it is.

What arrogance prevails in America, by those in power, to deny the citizens adequate healthcare.

Thank God I live in Australia!

[herring_RN]

Why not?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCQoj...eature=related

[CO2emission]

Hi,
It's great to see that many nurses in the US are observing the comparative successes of other universal models of health care. As an Australian who works within that system, I can confirm that although there are a few problems, those problems would exist in the private system and might not be reported or regulated. The private hospitals are there for those private health insurance who elect to go there. They do not have emergency departments and rely on the public hospitals particularly when things go wrong. We currently have a doctor facing trial known as "The Butcher of Bega" who hid in the private system for years mutilating and assaulting women.
Apart from providing health care to all, the universal system in Australia also provides a number of other benefits including:
1.The provision of teaching hospitals that standardise and closely monitor medical and nursing practices
2.The provision of government funded reasearch that removes the bias from profit driven research
3. The provision and monitoring of standards for the application of medical equipment
4. The mandatory reporting and investigation of incidents, morbidity and mortality statistics
5. The enforcement of staff patient ratios which facilitates bed closures when there are not enough nurses
6. The provision of coordinated, collaborated and rapid reponses to disasters.
7. The unification of nursing education and training.
8. Personal indemnity insurance is not required. Our hospitals accept vicarious liability for our nursing practices.
9. The provision of bulk billing of Medicare for small medical practices that see patients.
I would like to add that our wages and conditions are not dictated or set by the government. As with all workers in Australia our wages and conditions are negotiated through the Industrial Relations Courts with applications made by our unions after negotiations with it's members. Our unions also serve to represent us with legal and industrial matters.
Our universal system works very well and provides undiscriminated health care for patients and is supported by a "balance and checks" framework.

[herring_RN]

CO2emission:

Are you in Victoria?
Do other states have ratios too?

[Grace Oz]

They do not have emergency departments and rely on the public hospitals particularly when things go wrong.

Have to correct you on this point; some private hospitals do indeed have emergency departments. Their opening hours are often limited, but there are private hospitals in Australia with an ED.

[Grace Oz]

Originally Posted by herring_RN

CO2emission:

Are you in Victoria?
Do other states have ratios too?

I realise your question was posted to CO2emission, and I'll only answer the part which is not pertinent to her/him.

Yes other Australian states do have ratios.

[Grace Oz]

Originally Posted by herring_RN

Why not?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCQoj...eature=related

That bloke is an arrogant ignorant (TOS prevents me printing what I want, but you get the picture!)

Kudos to that POLITE nurse for sitting there engaging that arrogant ignorant (TOS " " " " " " ") RUDE male person!!! AND, trying to say her piece!

I would have told him just what I thought of his RUDENESS and got up and walked out!

WHAT an arrogant ignoramus he is!!!

He's obviously NEVER travelled to or LIVED in a country which has a very successful UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM!!!

Well sunshine, I DO! And you sir, ( I use THAT word VERY loosely!) are talking out of your .................

[RN4MERCY]

Originally Posted by CO2emission

Hi,
It's great to see that many nurses in the US are observing the comparative successes of other universal models of health care. As an Australian who works within that system, I can confirm that although there are a few problems, those problems would exist in the private system and might not be reported or regulated. The private hospitals are there for those private health insurance who elect to go there. They do not have emergency departments and rely on the public hospitals particularly when things go wrong. We currently have a doctor facing trial known as "The Butcher of Bega" who hid in the private system for years mutilating and assaulting women.
Apart from providing health care to all, the universal system in Australia also provides a number of other benefits including:
1.The provision of teaching hospitals that standardise and closely monitor medical and nursing practices
2.The provision of government funded reasearch that removes the bias from profit driven research
3. The provision and monitoring of standards for the application of medical equipment
4. The mandatory reporting and investigation of incidents, morbidity and mortality statistics
5. The enforcement of staff patient ratios which facilitates bed closures when there are not enough nurses
6. The provision of coordinated, collaborated and rapid reponses to disasters.
7. The unification of nursing education and training.
8. Personal indemnity insurance is not required. Our hospitals accept vicarious liability for our nursing practices.
9. The provision of bulk billing of Medicare for small medical practices that see patients.
I would like to add that our wages and conditions are not dictated or set by the government. As with all workers in Australia our wages and conditions are negotiated through the Industrial Relations Courts with applications made by our unions after negotiations with it's members. Our unions also serve to represent us with legal and industrial matters.
Our universal system works very well and provides undiscriminated health care for patients and is supported by a "balance and checks" framework.

Wow, this is really great information to have; I wish you could come "on the road" with us and lend your credibility and experience to our movement for a Single-Payer system in the USA. Thanks for sharing. I'm going to print this and keep it in my speaker's packet so I can refer to it during my presentations when the naysayers try to hi-jack the debate.

[herring_RN]

Originally Posted by Grace Oz

I realise your question was posted to CO2emission, and I'll only answer the part which is not pertinent to her/him.

Yes other Australian states do have ratios.

Thank you Grace!
I didn't know this. The Victoria ratios have gotten a lot of attention because four of their union leaders came to the U.S.A. speaking to nurses groups and the media.


I agree with RN4Mercy that an Australian nurse like CO2emission could help us a lot in this country.

Unfortunately that nurse would have to have the patience to deal with those like Mr.O'Reilly and worse. Or perhaps ignore those worse.
Many are a bit more polite.
Actually his rudeness was tampered compared to his usual because she is clearly a kind intelligent and well informed nurse.

Perhaps even he knows that healthcare for all is the right thing to do. He just doesn't think thatthe United States can do as well or better than Australia and the other democracies that do have healthcare for thier people.

Thank you Grace for joining this discussion.

[HM2Viking]

Mr. O'Reilly spun every talking point as usual but did not talk about real issues.

He presented another example of: