We don't need over-priced insurance - we need Guaranteed Healthcare.

Nurses Activism

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We don't need over-priced insurance - we need Guaranteed Healthcare

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Our healthcare system is frail - and making our patients sick. Even people with expensive insurance are denied health care, and many Americans can't afford any insurance at all.

It doesn't have to be this way. Registered Nurses are supporting Guaranteed Healthcare to give our patients the care they need. We don't need over-priced insurance - we need Guaranteed Healthcare.

From Washington to Sacramento, the air is filled with talk about how to reform our dysfunctional healthcare system. But only a single-payer system would assure that everyone is covered with one high standard of benefits and care, (as opposed to good care for the wealthy only) establish effective cost controls, curb administrative waste, and end insurance industry interference with care.

http://www.guaranteedhealthcare.org/facts

Specializes in Cardiac Surg, IR, Peds ICU, Emergency.

An American working as an RN in France.

An RN with 15 years experience makes about $2500 per month. This RN makes $1600 per month working in an ICU with a 1:13 patient ratio!

http://aboutmyjob.com/main.php3?action=displayarticle&artid=2489

The entries on this site are only 2 years old.

In addition, unemployment is remarkably higher in France, and French nurses have gone on strike at least three times in the past 10 years because of working conditions, primarly understaffing. I suppose one could speculate why hospitals are so understaffed in France that they are going on strike NATIONALLY...not just institutionally.

Here's a link from NIH.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=419378

"The first strategy is to use the variation in wages across destination countries. For each source country, the wage premium for nurses is largest in the USA and smallest in France and the United Kingdom."

6% of French nurses left the public sector in 2001. http://www.icn.ch/sewjan-march03.htm

Just want to clarify, are you suggesting that working conditions are better in France? Keep in mind that I only work a 36 hour week, and have far more opportunities in practice.

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Not much in English but I did find some information on line. A nurse who works with us worked in a Paris ICU for six years. She told us that acuities are more variable. A fresh open hear stays until discharge. Usually until able to climb two flights of stairs and walk at least 200 meters before discharged.

Doctors work alongside nurses. At the hospital where she worked nurses did not start IVs. I don’t know if that is customary for France or whether it was a hospital policy.

I can’t find actual staffing for nurses and doctors in English. Maybe it is not available. None of what I found gave me an idea on whether staffing is safe or not. My colleague thought it was OK.

Physicians staff hospital units. They work shifts, start IVs, suction, change dressings, and administer medications. - http://thorax.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/57/1/77

The nurse to patient ratio in the Paris critical care units participating in this study ranged from 1:1 to 1:3. It is implies but not explicit that the staffing is based on acuity - http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/163/1/135

French physicians, intensivists, who have a good working relationship with nurses are less likely to experience burn out. - http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/175/7/686

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For all countries, responses indicate room for improvement. Yet, the other five countries spend considerably less on health care per person and as a percent of gross domestic product than does the United States. These findings indicate that, from the perspectives of both physicians and patients, the U.S. health care system could do much better in achieving better value for the nation's substantial investment in health.

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http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=482678

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Originally Posted by spacenurse

You are right that single payer would not guarantee all the healthcare a person needs. That is the goal. Nurses are working toward that goal.

If not single payer what do you suggest?

There is no such thing as a program that will guarantee "all the healthcare a person needs." It's simply not an achievable goal.

I looked and looked and cannot find any suggestions, ideas, or ways to improve healthcare in the United States.

I really like your garden idea. It would improve some peoples health.

Any ideas for insured victims of accidents or illness who are denied healthcare?

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Specializes in Cardiac Surg, IR, Peds ICU, Emergency.
Originally Posted by spacenurse

I looked and looked and cannot find any suggestions, ideas, or ways to improve healthcare in the United States.

I really like your garden idea. It would improve some peoples health.

Any ideas for insured victims of accidents or illness who are denied healthcare?

One solution is acceptance of the fact that has already been presented; we simply cannot take care of every disease that everyone might contract.

As far as victims of accidents or illness that are denied healthcare, could you provide some examples? There is no epidemic of people dying from accident injuries that were not covered. Someone might cite an example such as the M.Moore guest who's insurance did not cover finger re-attachment. My father has two fingers amputated from two different accidents, and he was able to work for 20 years. Granted, he had to relearn how to play the guitar, but the fact that his fingers weren't reattached did not make him the victim of insufficient insurance.

Items like this are another example of intellectual dishonesty.

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If you ever look at socialized healthcare, you will realize that the pursuit of technology and innovations will decline because the market will not support it.

The Veteran's Administration has some of the most advanced use of e-records in the U.S.

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Accident victim - http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/st/?postId=1082&pageTitle=Accident+Victim+Denied+Treatment+by+HMO%2C+Arbitration+Denies+Him+Justice

Family Forced to Pay to Save Part of Mother's Leg, Lost HMO Arbitration Prevents Payback of Bills: http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/st/?postId=1079&pageTitle=Family+Forced+to+Pay+to+Save+Part+of+Mother%27s+Leg%2C+Lost+HMO+Arbitration+Prevents+Payback+of+Bills

HMO Refuses to Provide Standard Medical Procedure: http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/st/?postId=1087&pageTitle=HMO+Refuses+to+Provide+Standard+Medical+Procedure%2C+Family%27s+Costly+Arbitration+Lost

Dr. Doug Roberts, solo practice. How one doctor dealth with the "system": http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/st/?postId=4818&pageTitle=Dr.+Doug+Roberts%2C+solo+practice+--+Sacramento%2C+California

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Governor's plea to insurers

He asks them to sell their medical policies to anyone who can afford to pay.

http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/237564.html

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

officials warn of health care 'train wreck'

west chester-upper darby resident edmund w. boyle is having trouble ensuring his daughter gets the right medical attention...

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Our healthcare system is profoundly sick.

Explains why our healthcare system is in crisis and how to solve it: A plan that would provide comprehensive health coverage for everyone while savings money for families, businesses, and government.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB0Vn_BppwM

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