Having worked in a country which has socialized medicine I can certainly see the pit falls and the benefits. What I don't understand is the fear behind having socialized medicine In my opinion socialized medicine has more positive benefits than negative benefits.
The first and the most obvious concern is the cost to the patient and their family, we all know how devastating an illness can be for patients and their family many times I have witnessed the despair when a diagnoses meant further treatment which insurances question and in some cases wont cover. I have seen patients needing costly drugs to keep them alive and being unable to afford them, causing repeated admissions to repair the damage so called none compliance has caused. The first question in none compliance is were the pts actually refusing to take their medication or was it simply they could not afford to buy their medication because they don't have enough money and other bills need to be paid first? If the real reason is the cost then surely it would be more simple of we provided these medications at a more effective price or that all medications cost $5 no matter what they had? Outrageous I hear you shout but the cost of the repeated admission is far more costly than by helping prevent a repeat admission, by providing medicine they can afford.
How about blood tests could these not be done in the doctors office before the pt leaves for home and forgets to go and have a blood draw, or simply cannot get to the lab to have them drawn. I have personally waited in doctors office hours (and paid for the privilege) then been sent to the lab, miles away to sit and wait for blood work to be done. Why could the doctors not employ somebody to be at the office to draw blood on patients?
We should be looking at improving preventative medicine rather than patch it up and see.
Many times I have seen patients discharged with a new diagnoses of diabetes, no follow up at home can be organised because in my city nothing exists to assist these people. There should be a diabetic home nurse who monitors these patients in their own home-rationale, this would again help prevent admissions for diabetic complications, and none compliance.
So you wonder what has this got to do with socialized medicine. Well, in the UK if you have...
Children
Over 60 for women and over 65 for men
Diabetes
Asthma
Thyroid problems, etc...
...then you get all your medicines for free.
There are in place specialized RN's who focus is on preventative care in the community. There are telephone help lines which anybody can utilize for free.
Maternity care is free a midwife will be assigned to you for the duration of your pregnancy and up to 6 weeks later. The cost of the birth-nothing no matter how you deliver.
I have been asked what kind of care do you receive in a socialized medicine country and I ask them, I am a product of socialized medicine you tell me how my care differs from nurses who have paid outrageous amounts of money to train as a nurse?
Of course even in the UK you can have private care if you chose to pay, this is an advantage if you need hip replacements, knee replacements, eye surgeries-other wise you may have to wait. There are initiatives in place to reduce waiting times for surgeries in the NHS and I hear that dr's can now book surgeries from their office at hospitals all over the UK which helps reduce waiting times, plus hospitals get fined if they don't meet their quota.
I agree MRI's and CT's are not as freely available, but again initiatives are in place to improve the waiting times. Emergency care no different all patients will receive emergency care.
Poor conditions yes there are poor hospitals and there are excellent hospitals, no different to Phoenix AZ.
Specializes in psychiatric, UR analyst, fraud, DME,MedB.
If nationalized health care is an encroachment on states rights, then so is social security, disability, and unemployment. Are Republicans still pretending that the new deal ruined America and that President Roosevelt was a communist? Oh please. Like you aren't planning on cashing your social security checks? The 10th amendment is a poor argument against making sickness a non-profiteering industry(they do exist you know. Check out your local fire department). People are getting their panties in a bunch about this, but then turn around and support real national restriction of civil rights by supporting the patriot act and torture. Hello? What? Oh the constitution wasn't a problem then for you, was it? Using the constitution as a crutch to cause fear mongering when entire families' lives are ruined every day in this country by illnes, is just plain laaaaaaaaaaaame!
Specializes in ICU, MS, Radiology, Long term care.
I don't need to defend Canada's health care system. The US would have their own with private companies in competition. The article you referred quoted the head of the Canadian Medical Association as stating the competition is needed. A poll by Washington Post/ABC news showed 54% were dissatisfied with present health care quality.
i don't need to defend canada's health care system. the us would have their own with private companies in competition. the article to which you referred, quoted the head of the canadian medical association as stating the competition is needed. a poll by the washington post/abc news showed 54% were dissatisfied with present health care quality. were abc and wp in collaberation?
is this like shouting in the town hall meetings?
no!!!
what is the population polled by the washington post? how many opinions were polled?
you can't dump figures in the air and expect people to believe they mean anything...... :smackingf
Canada's Health Care system is "imploding????" What??? How can this be??? Just throw more money at it, right? Sadly, that IS the only answer if Canada is to continue it's Socialist Health Care System. (As I have pointed out correctly and tirelessly many many times) Is there anyone who can LOGICALLY continue to defend Canada's System now? Please read the link below.
I have also pointed out correctly and tirelessly many many times, NO Business is sustainable long-term without competition, an incentive to profit, and price control that is FREELY and PURELY driven by customer demand. By it's very nature, Federal Government stifles and restricts all 3 of these. Unfortunately, America has forgotten this too. But I have confidence and I truly believe in my heart that America WILL wake up soon.
"The pitch for change at the conference is to start with a presentation from Dr. Robert Ouellet, the current president of the CMA, who has said there's a critical need to make Canada's health-care system patient-centred. He will present details from his fact-finding trip to Europe in January, where he met with health groups in England, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and France." (From the article linked above)
Gee, notice that the head of the CMA isn't looking to the US for any helpful insights on how to improve their system. Any healthcare financing system has weaknesses and flaws and can stand improvement, but I've never heard any mention of any other industrialized nation considering dismantling their universal system in favor of a US-style system. If our system is so great, how come no other country wants to emulate it?
just so you are aware, the percentage of healthcare costs that actually benefit the doctor is only 3%. perhaps we should all (i am talking about 99% of the american population) acknowledge the fact that decreasing a doctors salary won't affect the cost of healthcare. check to see how much profit, the not-for-profit hospitals in your citiy made last year. then check to see how much the ceos of all your local hospitals made. it should be public knowledge.
where did you get the 3% stat? what organization proffered it?
the "public knowledge" of administrators' salaries is usually printed in blown up newspaper reports or shiny annual financial statement folders, meant to give board members of the hospital less heartburn. both have questionnable verasity. bonuses aren't included in salaries...... would that nurses could receive them......
to what study have you discovered proof that "decreasing a doctor's salary won't affect the cost of healthcare"? who do you think you're kidding? decreased cost is decreased cost. if you're alluding to patients having more severe illnesses that require hospitalization, thus increasing costs due to doctors' receipt of less money, then it would be necessary to see if more reports of poor medical care have been received, or increased malpractise suits have been filed, since thbeir salaries decreased
"not-for-profit" hospitals don't report profits for obvious reasons.
If nationalized health care is an encroachment on states rights, then so is social security, disability, and unemployment.Ahh, so we agree afterall. :)Are Republicans still pretending that the new deal ruined America and that President Roosevelt was a communist?Read History Please. Yes Roosevelt's policies did drastically increase the time our grandparents suffered through the depression. No, Roosevelt was not a communist. I'm a Constitutionalist not a Republican. Oh please. Like you aren't planning on cashing your social security checks?Yes I am because I've already been taxed for it. The 10th amendment is a poor argument against making sickness a non-profiteering industry(they do exist you know. Check out your local fire department).Fire Departments are municipalities. They are controlled by local self- governments. Your argument doesn't make sense. People are getting their panties in a bunch about this,Rightfully so! but then turn around and support real national restriction of civil rights by supporting the patriot act and torture.Ahh, we agree again. :) The Patriot Act and the Department of Homeland Defense should be abolished. Hello? What? Oh the constitution wasn't a problem then for you, was it? Using the constitution as a crutch to cause fear mongering when entire families' lives are ruined every day in this country by illnes, is just plain laaaaaaaaaaaame!As currently written and amended, Congress does not have an enumerated power to legislate health care to the States. Without an enumerated power, the power to legislate Health Care IS reserved solely to the States. If you don't want to respect that FACT then you don't respect the Constitution or the freedom it reserves for you which allows you to speak freely on this website.
I've never heard any mention of any other industrialized nation considering dismantling their universal system in favor of a US-style system. If our system is so great, how come no other country wants to emulate it?
It could be that the rest of the Western world is composed entirely of policy makers and public figures hell bent on insidiously converting the globe to socialism through the sneaky tactic of providing affordable health care to all. Or it could be that no Western government is ready to tell its populace that they're removing UHC in favour of a more expensive model that will generate vast profits for insurers and share-holders but will cover only some people and leave the rest to fend for themselves. Maybe there's a third reason - any suggestions?
Specializes in ICU, APHERESIS, IV THERAPY, ONCOLOGY, BC.
A few have mentioned about long-term viability. The alternative doesn't seem to fix the problem either.
Having worked in the UK many years ago, I find this accurate especially the key aspect where a bloated plutocracy/ bureaucracy sees healthcare as a position entrenched in mediocrity and control. The reality in searching for a new healthcare model for the US is to find one which limits political power, encourages healthcare professionals with management education to own and implement this model. Most importantly to research, developing models which project for the present and the demographics of the future. This would be to examine gaps and strengths, to redefine crucial aspects for change which exist right now for those with limited or no income. All healthcare models in every country are challenged today. There is a growing elder population, increasing new illnesses affecting newborn infants, fertility problems and evolving viruses and superbugs which demand vigilance and competence in healthcare practices. Place this scenario against global recession caused by greed, lack of accountablility and instant profit taking - an example of superficiality and exorbitant greed without accountability, the challenge is huge. President Obama must use nursing and medical professionals and experts to shape this model if he is serious. A new model which embraces both the US constitutional rights of its citizens and healthcare change as mentioned above demands nursing and medical participation towards formulation /or fixing what is broken right now. This also means that people must be ready to learn about healthcare, their participation and their responsibilities. Just as no one would seek a mortgage or buy a car without thorough research, ( there are those who will be short-changed by slick salesman) before committing to large financial transactions, nor should we be ready to accept a politicised version of national healthcare _ please lose the word socialised_ without through research and down to earth considerations.
Specializes in psychiatric, UR analyst, fraud, DME,MedB.
Having worked in the UK many years ago, I find this accurate especially the key aspect where a bloated plutocracy/ bureaucracy sees healthcare as a position entrenched in mediocrity and control. The reality in searching for a new healthcare model for the US is to find one which limits political power, encourages healthcare professionals with management education to own and implement this model. Most importantly to research, developing models which project for the present and the demographics of the future. This would be to examine gaps and strengths, to redefine crucial aspects for change which exist right now for those with limited or no income. All healthcare models in every country are challenged today. There is a growing elder population, increasing new illnesses affecting newborn infants, fertility problems and evolving viruses and superbugs which demand vigilance and competence in healthcare practices. Place this scenario against global recession caused by greed, lack of accountablility and instant profit taking - an example of superficiality and exorbitant greed without accountability, the challenge is huge. President Obama must use nursing and medical professionals and experts to shape this model if he is serious. A new model which embraces both the US constitutional rights of its citizens and healthcare change as mentioned above demands nursing and medical participation towards formulation /or fixing what is broken right now. This also means that people must be ready to learn about healthcare, their participation and their responsibilities. Just as no one would seek a mortgage or buy a car without thorough research, ( there are those who will be short-changed by slick salesman) before committing to large financial transactions, nor should we be ready to accept a politicised version of national healthcare _ please lose the word socialised_ without through research and down to earth considerations.
Agreed all of the above. Yes, it is a big change and like what I said , unfortunately there is no perfect system--- but where we are now is not viable for long...too many people w/o insurance, and the ER are used for uninsured patients ---can you blame them, if they have nowhere to go? But if they did have a primary physician in the first place , they will have no need for the ER, right ?
I am even more agreeable w/ the non used of the word socialism---it's use was just not appropriate---even worse when mentioning Stalin-------completely distracted from the main subject. Yes, please research well. :typing
I have my own opinions, like everyone else, but I work to find information that is non-biased and factual. If you don't like these sources, let me know and I can post more.
I have my own opinions, like everyone else, but I work to find information that is non-biased and factual. If you don't like these sources, let me know and I can post more.
Read those 2 reports and I am happy that the majority of the people agreed w/ the public plan ...this is the only way you can lower the private insurance companies----if there is no competetion ,these insurance companies fixed prices among themselves and dictate the price. I am very unhappy w/ the Redpublicans attitude because they are more into different camp attitude (disagreeing) and does not think the overall benefit for the public people. Very shameful, that their priorities are not the people ! they are not doing a balance of power here...they are doing harm by dragging their asses, after all they have federal insurance and retirements-------while the rest of us struggle and some barely could make it.......what kind of public servants are these? They are not doing us any good by bickering....this is where you bypass this hurdle ---put the public health reform for people to vote ! and fire those republicans ! :typing
What world are you folks living in? Those polls sure don't reflect the majorities who are against Socialized Health Care where I come from. I can honestly say that I've never even talked with an RN or Physician who is for this unconstitutional nonsense. Maybe that's because where I come from folks actually care about and esteem our Constitution. For those Americans on this thread who are proponents of Socialized Health Care, have you ever read in entirety our Constitution and Bill of Rights? Take care and Saude!
MaritesaRN
427 Posts
If nationalized health care is an encroachment on states rights, then so is social security, disability, and unemployment. Are Republicans still pretending that the new deal ruined America and that President Roosevelt was a communist? Oh please. Like you aren't planning on cashing your social security checks? The 10th amendment is a poor argument against making sickness a non-profiteering industry(they do exist you know. Check out your local fire department). People are getting their panties in a bunch about this, but then turn around and support real national restriction of civil rights by supporting the patriot act and torture. Hello? What? Oh the constitution wasn't a problem then for you, was it? Using the constitution as a crutch to cause fear mongering when entire families' lives are ruined every day in this country by illnes, is just plain laaaaaaaaaaaame!