I was a sorcerer in AD&D. Here I hope to be interesting--at least to someone.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

A New Medical System is Needed

On Monday, I had an appointment to see a neurologist about my back. I have a slipped disk at L5-S1, and it is causing me pain in my back, as well as numbness in my right leg.

I went to the doctor's office, checked in, and sat down. It was a long wait.

I waited an entire hour before I was called into the examination room. The nurse asked me to sit, "The doctor will be in shortly". I opened my book and read some more. It was another half-hour before I realized the doctor had not come. I ducked out the door and asked someone when I'd be seeing the doctor. She said, "The doctor will be with you shortly". I went back to my book.

Within 20 minutes, I was tired of reading, and beginning to wonder why I hadn't seen my doctor yet. Within 30 minutes I was fuming. My doctor finally came in, and I couldn't help myself; I erupted.

The doctor listened to me spout off, then apologized, stating that his associate for that day had the flu, and he'd had to deal with both sets of patients for the day. He then spoke of my problem, stating that physical therapy should be enough for my symptoms, then he left. His presence lasted a whole 5 minutes.

Two hours waiting for 5 minutes of nothing.

A reasonable person would have had the other patients rescheduled. His staff had plenty of time to contact patients and reschedule appointments, rather than to make us wait. This person was obviously more interested in making money. These specialists are paid for appointments, not time. A mechanic or a lawyer is paid by time spent using their services; if they want more money, they work longer hours. A specialist doctor however, is paid by appointments. It is assumed that the doctor spends at least 15 minutes with each patient, before moving on to the next one. Insurance companies pay doctors for time spent with each patient; they don't assume that the doctors are only seeing 32 patients per day, they pay for what is submitted to them.

Obviously a new system is needed.

I have been a proponent of Socialized Medicine in this country for many years. The system that exists in Canada would make an excellent example of how to set it up, after all, they spent the last twenty-five years working out the problems; they have it perfected now. Their current system doesn't cut anybody short; no 2 hour wainting periods to see a doctor for 5 minutes. No overpayment of doctors who don't bother to give you all the details. No insurance companies who refuse payment unless said doctor is approved by a board of financiers who know nothing about medicine.

Think I'm being too demanding? Unpatriotic? Bitchy?

I am a person whose health has been poor all my life. I've no one to blame for that; remember, I'm an atheist. I can, however, make comments about the medical systems that exist in my country, just as I can comment on my govenment, and I think there are too many problems associated with both. I will undoubtedly make comments about both in more of these postings, but that can wait until later. I've made my point here and now; I'll be back later.

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