Socialism Is the Best Medicine

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

americans wait longer to see primary-care physicians than patients in britain, germany, australia, or new zealand--all countries with strong public-health systems.

nearly one quarter of americans reported waiting six days or more for an appointment with their doctor. new zealand scored best, with just 3 percent waiting that long, followed by australia (10 percent), germany (13 percent), and britain (15 percent).

canada rounded out the bottom, with more than a third waiting six days or more. similarly, america shares with its northern neighbor the dubious honor of being ranked last in terms of patients' ability to make same-day appointments.

only 26 percent of americans and canadians reported being able see their doctor on the day they called, compared with 60 percent in the netherlands and 48 percent in britain....

http://www.newsweek.com/id/212152

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That's why we have ER's and walk in clinics... NP's in grocery stores... all of this to improve patient care. No need to go socialist, where after they are rapidly seen by their primary care provider, they die waiting to see a specialist...

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Specializes in Psych , Peds ,Nicu.

Wheras here they die waiting or fighting for authorization from there insurance company , or simply die because they have no insurance !

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Specializes in Acute post op ortho.

"merritt hawkins, a consulting firm that specializes in recruiting physicians and other health care professionals, surveyed more than 1,150 medical offices in 15 cities. the survey measured average appointment wait times in family practices as well as four specialties: cardiology, dermatology, obstetrics/gynecology and orthopedic surgery.

the survey found that, on average, wait times have increased by 8.6 days per city. boston had the longest wait, averaging 49.6 days, followed by philadelphia with 27 and los angeles with 24.2. the shortest was atlanta with an 11.2-day wait.

in all cities among all the specialties, the wait was 20.5 days.

tthe survey surmises that long wait times in boston could be the result in part of the 2006 health reform initiative that requires nearly every massachusetts resident to get health insurance.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-06-03-waittimes_n.htm

massachusetts' wait time increased when the state wide reform initiative took effect.

you have to fight billing problems? thank our govt. interference for that too....icd9 (hell-o)

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Specializes in ED/trauma.

Saw 11 patients last night in my ER. 2 had medical insurance, 9 did not. All were treated equally and immediatly. Some were discharged, some were admitted. All will be treated the same until they are back to baseline. The ones with insurance may have a co-pay or some out of pocket expense. The ones with no insurance will be billed as well, some will pay, some will never pay a cent. Either way, no one waited more than a few hours tops, and no one died.

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

what if a woman comes to the ER with a lump in her breast?

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http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jbjzPEY0Y3bvRD335rGu_Z3KXoQw

By Jennifer Graham (CP) – 2 days ago

SASKATOON — The incoming president of the Canadian Medical Association says this country's health-care system is sick and doctors need to develop a plan to cure it.

Dr. Anne Doig says patients are getting less than optimal care and she adds that physicians from across the country - who will gather in Saskatoon on Sunday for their annual meeting - recognize that changes must be made.

"We all agree that the system is imploding, we all agree that things are more precarious than perhaps Canadians realize," Doing said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

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americans wait longer to see primary-care physicians than patients in britain, germany, australia, or new zealand—all countries with strong public-health systems.

nearly one quarter of americans reported waiting six days or more for an appointment with their doctor. new zealand scored best, with just 3 percent waiting that long, followed by australia (10 percent), germany (13 percent), and britain (15 percent).

canada rounded out the bottom, with more than a third waiting six days or more. similarly, america shares with its northern neighbor the dubious honor of being ranked last in terms of patients' ability to make same-day appointments.

only 26 percent of americans and canadians reported being able see their doctor on the day they called, compared with 60 percent in the netherlands and 48 percent in britain….

http://www.newsweek.com/id/212152

this is not directed at the op but is generally endemic (both the left and right leaning members) on this board. people keep citing news articles that are reporting on scientific articles. stop citing the news story without the actual article and without actually reading the article. please think for yourself. don't just take what someone else says, as truth.

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http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jbjzPEY0Y3bvRD335rGu_Z3KXoQw

By Jennifer Graham (CP) – 2 days ago

SASKATOON — The incoming president of the Canadian Medical Association says this country's health-care system is sick and doctors need to develop a plan to cure it.

Dr. Anne Doig says patients are getting less than optimal care and she adds that physicians from across the country - who will gather in Saskatoon on Sunday for their annual meeting - recognize that changes must be made.

"We all agree that the system is imploding, we all agree that things are more precarious than perhaps Canadians realize," Doing said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

"Doig, who has had a full-time family practice in Saskatoon for 30 years, acknowledges that when physicians have talked about changing the health-care system in the past, they've been accused of wanting an American-style structure. She insists that's not the case." (from the posted article)

Every system, in any country, has flaws and weaknesses, and any system can be improved. However, I've never heard any mention of any country with a universal system wanting to dismantle that system and implement a US-style system. They're still a heck of a lot better off than we are ...

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

What care would be available for a woman who goes to the ER or a "Minute Clinic" with a lump in her breast?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
That's why we have ER's and walk in clinics... NP's in grocery stores... all of this to improve patient care. No need to go socialist, where after they are rapidly seen by their primary care provider, they die waiting to see a specialist...

That is very inaccurate. I work in the Canadian health care system and people do not die waiting while waiting to see specialists.

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Wheras here they die waiting or fighting for authorization from there insurance company , or simply die because they have no insurance !

Either way they are dead... Lets spend 3 trillion a year and get the same old results... Great Plan!!! Sign me up... not!!!

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