Health Care: The Ticking Time Bomb

ACU_RN · Jul 12, 2009

Let Barry appoint another Czar, it will fix everything.

K98 · Jul 13, 2009

Did I say no financial reward? It's a given that people work for payment for their services, or give them "pro bono", as a volunteer. The point is, that doctors abuse their positions, requiring more and more wealth in return for going to school and being a resident less than a decade. Their focus on accumulating wealth deprives patients of attention to their concerns. I see a doctor who left his office at 10:30 A.M. (off duty, hadn't been "on call", in fact he's never "on call", leaving patients with the option of going to the ED, or a doctor whose English is unintelligible. Another day the same week, he left at 3:00 P.M. Now his staff tell me he's about to retire (while he can still sell his practise for moocho bucks), in his 50s!
You cannot steal my message by misinterpreting it!

Your message was not misinterpreted. While I am sure some physicians work harder than others, the surgeons that I work with every shift are extremely hard working individuals that care deeply about their patients. These physicians routinely spend 14-16 hour days at the hospital, and it is not unusual to see them on the unit on weekends and holidays. Medical school is still very competitive and challenging, and certainly not for everyone (much like nursing school). I feel that these physicians deserve every penny they earn, and that nurses deserve more than the pennies they earn. The market should set salaries, not the government. For all of those that remain jealous of the salaries and perks that physicians enjoy...Get thine butt to medical school .

dlatimer · Jul 13, 2009

In a perfect world - the market would set the scale for physicians and nurses. But, the market is rigged. The regulators are supposed to inspect and report unsafe practices and staffing ratios. State inspectors seem without power or teeth, Joint Commission is paid by the hospitals. If all nurses who want to earn more money and receive more respect should return to school - then nurses are not as important as doctors? Or, that nurses aren't needed?

K98 · Jul 13, 2009

In a perfect world - the market would set the scale for physicians and nurses. But, the market is rigged. The regulators are supposed to inspect and report unsafe practices and staffing ratios. State inspectors seem without power or teeth, Joint Commission is paid by the hospitals. If all nurses who want to earn more money and receive more respect should return to school - then nurses are not as important as doctors? Or, that nurses aren't needed?

Nurses are every bit as vital to patient well-being as physicians. Nurses are not paid as much because of a generally lower level of formal education. My take on the nurse salary issue is that disorganization is what keeps nurses in the salary basement. If nurses had a national organization/lobbying group like the AMA, nurses would make higher salaries. Don't look to unions to improve things for nurses. I am required to belong to the SEIU because they represent the RNs at the facility where I work. Any improvements have been slight, the main difference has been the 70.00 per month that the union deducts from our paychecks.

Several of our nurses have left the profession to become doctors. Are they happier? Maybe. Are they making more money? Absolutely.

dlatimer · Jul 13, 2009

Back to the subject matter....Health care. Does everyone have a right to affordable, accessible health care? Health care expenses are causes of bankruptcy, therefore extinguishing life as we know it when we are healthy and financially viable and productive members of society. As we all have the right 'to pursue happiness'; what is the difference between slavery and what is happening now? Radical? probably. Correct analogy? You decide.

Meredith09 · Jul 13, 2009

There is no place in the Constitution that allows or states that heathcare is a the job of goverment . With that being said I think we should look very careful at the numbers the Congress has never been able to manage in any way Heathcare MCaid and Mcare are both so far in the red that we will never live long enough to see them even close to breaking even. I hope that people will look and the numbers, no country has been able to keep paying for it all as Dear Leader Obama would like us to belive that the goverment is going to do, all I ask is when I come to you in the ed and let you know that our new goverment healthcare that you are going to be forced to be a part of that everyone wants that the MRI or CT or PET scan that might give the Dr the info they need to save your life is not part of the goverment plan and you do not quilify for it.........sorry.

:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:

While I think healthcare is arguably a HUMAN right, it is not a CONSTITUTIONAL right. If we want to change the healthcare system in the name of morality and basic human decency, then we should allow the people who provide the care the chance to do so--and I think this may include the insurance companies that already exist. As much of a pain they often are, they do have a role to play (and people who need to keep their jobs). This country was built on the principle of freedom and the notion that working hard will eventually get you where you want to go most of the time. Since when is the government responsible for providing things (or protecting them) to its citizens that are not specifically guaranteed by the Constitution?

Meredith09 · Jul 13, 2009

Socialism means cooperative and joint ownership of means of production and distribution of goods by the government and the people. Have any of you who suggest this studied politics, world history or economics? Have you traveled to other countries? It would be really nice to actually have a discussion with learned, informed individuals.
By the way, the constitution does make a reference to health (welfare) in the very first line:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
It is beyond selfish to not consider the welfare of those who are living in poverty, facing illness without proper treatment or financial ruin due to lack of health insurance. As nurses, we should be supportive of any law, regulation, ordinance or norm that improves health and wellness for ALL.

Indy,

I, for one, despite only being in my early twenties, have traveled all over this world; I have an excellent education, and I have studied at Oxford University. So yes, THIS learned, informed individual who DOES care about the welfare of others DISAGREES with you.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jul 14, 2009

Folks, once again: Please remember to debate the TOPIC and not one another. There is no place here for personal attacks. If a post offends you, please click on the little red and white triangle in the bottom-left corner and report it to staff. Thank you.

lamazeteacher · Jul 14, 2009

Not so much.

I have family who have their business in Canada, and it's truly a capitalist way of making money. One educational toy store has turned into 11, and they have more than just educational items there to be more competative. Their website has been used by American servicemen during deployment, and people in many countries.

If you have lived there, or know something I don't know about the political climate there, please tell me what makes you think capitalism is not the way people make their livings.

It certainly has been that way there, as far as my sister, her sons, and I experience it. The main difference there is that doctors are government employees, as are most health care workers (except for dentists, chiropracters, Asian medicine practitioners and masseuses).

The ostentatious dentists' offices aren't appreciated by their patients, who think their charges are excessive. Housing is quite expensive, on a par with big cities like Chicago. Universities have greater expectations of students, and cost less than American ones. The concept that a graduate must work for a long time to repay student loans, is quite foreign to the Canadians I know. My 4 nephews in Canada have all attended university there.

The only incongruous thing to which I take exception, is the enforcement in Quebec, of a language law that seems dictatorial and makes "anglophones" leave. They have to conduct their businesses and practises in French, including paperwork if there are more than 2 employees there. Judges don't know English, so cases have to be heard in French. Lawyers must write their exams in French or they'll fail, since the examiners have no English skills.

Doctors who don't know English are limited to attending conferences there or in France (although their form of French is different than that spoken there, and they're ridiculed), so many "francophones" believe "anglophone" doctors are better informed of modern treatments and DME (since they attend American conferences), and they go to them for care.

There are actually language police who write up businesses that don't immediately greet customers by saying "Bonjour", instead of "Hi". They receive a summons to appear in court for using the wrong language!

lynette.johnson · Jul 14, 2009

Our health care system hurts everyone. Premiums are expensive and increasing every year. Doing nothing today will cost taxpayers 2-3 times more in the next few years.
Currently, the "public option" is the biggest obstacle when it comes to health care reform. Many believe that it will be the end of health care as we know it today - others think that it is long overdue.
Would you support a public health care option?

Are people paying attention to what is going on here? Did you that when politicians who are in favor of universal healthcare are asked if they would adopt the government run insurance for them and their families they say "no". get a clue! They won't even put their kids in public schools. They want it for us, but not for them. They are too good I guess!!!

lamazeteacher · Jul 14, 2009

"....... what is the difference between slavery and what is happening now? Radical? probably. Correct analogy? You decide.

You've got to be kidding.

It's sheer fantasy to think that doctors and other health care workers will work without pay, say "Yes, massa" and fear beatings if they don't work to the satisfaction of the government. Actually what's happening now, is lackluster health care which overpays doctors and underpays all other health care workers, as well as providing inadequate staffing. Obituaries reflect deaths of young people who had treatable conditions.

Patients are referred to jammed ERs, when doctors prefer golf (or other pursuits of pleasure) to office hours. When hospitalized, patients are at the mercy of "hospitalists" who are family practitioners who eschued the responsibility of having their own offices, and who seem not to believe that continuity of care (maintaining patients on previously taken medications) isn't necessary; and don't know the requirements or recommendation of predictive diagnostic tests. Oh well, they do save private doctors the nuisance of seeing their patients there.

I have personally experienced the above, while having GI bleeding.

Viviana, ASN, RN · Jul 14, 2009

Are people paying attention to what is going on here? Did you that when politicians who are in favor of universal healthcare are asked if they would adopt the government run insurance for them and their families they say "no". get a clue! They won't even put their kids in public schools. They want it for us, but not for them. They are too good I guess!!!

Do you realize that Medicare is "government run insurance"? Last I heard, it works fine and patients are very satisfied with it!