What the Heck?! Thread (Closed)

[dingyibvs]

I most certainly have great respect for Drs. and in my five years in Hospice, I have nothing but great respect for the many faithful and fearless medical professionals who serve tirelessly, (they really are tired) and they work very hard.

I worked for VNA/TIP Hospice of Bridgeton, Mo, it was a private hospice, but as you have alluded to most of our patients did receive medicare coverage...I started in Jan 2006 and received a raise before I even started,,, qualified Chaplains were a required part of Hospice Care,,, I was also Bereavement Co-ordinator and Volunteer Co-ordinator. I loved my job, loved my patients and was very well respected and loved by my Co-workers, Nurses, and CNA's who made the world go around.

I also served patients in East St. Louis and the Metro East, many who had nothing, but the Hospice did improve many of their circumstances greatly. Shortly after Obamcare was passed, Medicare guidelines for Hospice were rewritten, drastically cutting fee's paid for services, as I said, we were an NGO, and this gutted many of our services, as we provided our own transportation, supplies, etc, etc,.
Instead of a Chaplain the guidelines were re-written to provide a "spiritual counselor". I wasn't getting rich, but did make about 38,000 per year, so I was getting by.

After those guidelines were re-written our company fired 4 Chaplains in one year, my employer asked me to take a part time position, but as I had twin 13 year old daughter's still at home, I really couldn't do that. So they hired a part-time "Spiritual Counselor" without credentials and a part time Volunteer/Bereavement Coordinator, both of whom they also fired with-in the first month?? LOL

As you have noted, those who game the system and don't work are breaking the back of this country,,Mitt Romney's 47%, and that percentage is higher now, so NO a system with more "USERS" than Payors" as Obamacare still is today, its NOT been repealed as of yet?? is doomed to FAIL! and it is failing, and if Trump is unable to replace it, it will inevitable fail, just as people have been predicting since its inception.

So thank-you for your service as a Dr., I have a friend who was a Navy Pilot flying "Hoovers" off the carrier, but he went back to school and became a Dr., he was a Flight Surgeon on his last deployment during Desert Shield, actually got a little more flying time in the "Hoover"..

He is a "Week-end Warrior" in the ER's of several local hospitals, but very busy.

Ah I see, I'm sorry to hear about that, quite crummy and it does sound like Obamacare quite directly and negatively affected your job. The services you provide are extremely valuable, and I'd like to thank you for your work!

As for the 47%, it's really a terrible thing, nothing in my profession grinds my gears more than that. I remember in medical school I overheard a drug dealer who was recently shot and treated in my hospital gleefully declaring to his friend "work? nah, I'm gonna be on disability!" Or that mother I saw who's on her 29th pregnancy and about to have her 10th kid, has no job but strolls around with designer shoes and bags. That's where our tax dollars go This is as opposed to the elderly folks who've worked hard all their lives but cannot afford to pay for nursing home or a home health aide which are available for free to Medicaid patients, so they languish at home without access to even proper nutrition or clean clothes. Did I mention how a terrible thing that is?

Unfortunately, the issue is that we're paying for their healthcare whether or not we have Obamacare. The difference is with Obamacare, healthcare organizations are incentivized to take care of them as an outpatient, which is cheaper, rather than when they land in the hospital, which is much more expensive. It's far from a perfect solution, but it's better than nothing. Quite unfortunate and frankly I don't know what would be a better solution, because there are indeed those who try very hard but just don't have the money for proper health care, and we can't neglect them because the rest who are abusing the system.

 

[antiterror13]

So does Trump, but only a lot less effective as a leader.

is he a leader? or perhaps an ugly old cheerleader

 

[antiterror13]

Actually it is about coverage brother, and brother Obama gave my coverage to somebody else, lots of losers on the public dole, and expect everyone else to do everything else?? I work for my family, and I'm very proud to it, I'm not a victim, I'm a citizen in a free country, and I'm free to say what I want about Trump or Obama!

By the way, I wish them both the best, Obama was just a socialist and damned near destroyed our country, take from the rich and the poor, and give it to the democrat.

socialist is good ... look all "socialist" countries are good and better than the US in many ways (health, crime, happiness, wages, etc) ... the UK, NZ, Australia, Netherlands ... you name it

believe it or not, even Cuba health system is way way better than the US ... and Cuba is a socialist poor country ... try going there and I guarantee 150% you would agree

 

[Air Force Brat]

Ah I see, I'm sorry to hear about that, quite crummy and it does sound like Obamacare quite directly and negatively affected your job. The services you provide are extremely valuable, and I'd like to thank you for your work!

As for the 47%, it's really a terrible thing, nothing in my profession grinds my gears more than that. I remember in medical school I overheard a drug dealer who was recently shot and treated in my hospital gleefully declaring to his friend "work? nah, I'm gonna be on disability!" Or that mother I saw who's on her 29th pregnancy and about to have her 10th kid, has no job but strolls around with designer shoes and bags. That's where our tax dollars go This is as opposed to the elderly folks who've worked hard all their lives but cannot afford to pay for nursing home or a home health aide which are available for free to Medicaid patients, so they languish at home without access to even proper nutrition or clean clothes. Did I mention how a terrible thing that is?

Unfortunately, the issue is that we're paying for their healthcare whether or not we have Obamacare. The difference is with Obamacare, healthcare organizations are incentivized to take care of them as an outpatient, which is cheaper, rather than when they land in the hospital, which is much more expensive. It's far from a perfect solution, but it's better than nothing. Quite unfortunate and frankly I don't know what would be a better solution, because there are indeed those who try very hard but just don't have the money for proper health care, and we can't neglect them because the rest who are abusing the system.

Thank you brother, for your very kind and well thought post, I actually agree with you on managed care,,but Obamacare is a massive govt overreach. In particular the individual/employer mandates have put nearly a 3rd of the country out of work due to employers bearing all the load, they have to downsize. Myself I was FINED for being too broke to buy insurance, but did not qualify for any govt subsidies to help me purchase insurance.

So I was punished financially,,,590 or so first year 1000 last year! Obama taking money out of mine, my, wife's, and worse my two little girls pockets,,,

One is going to be a Physical Therapy Assistant, the other a nurse, and wants to be a Nurse Practitioner, so I do know what I'm talking about.

my poor little Dr. has to work my whole apt on the computer, half her time is filling out the paperwork, instead of treating patients and applying her extensive knowledge and skill to her patients treatment??

thank you, thank you, I am going to be following you/friending you, I'm so happy to know who you are. thanks Bub

 

[PiSigma]

socialist is good ... look all "socialist" countries are good and better than the US in many ways (health, crime, happiness, wages, etc) ... the UK, NZ, Australia, Netherlands ... you name it

believe it or not, even Cuba health system is way way better than the US ... and Cuba is a socialist poor country ... try going there and I guarantee 150% you would agree

That is kinda moving the goal post. Nothing else works in Cuba, I have been there. So having great medical system just means they spend all their money on it and have nothing left for anything else. And if you been there, you would agree they got no money for anything. I'm not talking about just Havana, but the rest of the country.

Other places you have listed are all small populations like Canada. That's why we have great medical services. Large size and population means the spending go up exponentially. Since you will have more transmission and distribution.

 

[solarz]

That is kinda moving the goal post. Nothing else works in Cuba, I have been there. So having great medical system just means they spend all their money on it and have nothing left for anything else. And if you been there, you would agree they got no money for anything. I'm not talking about just Havana, but the rest of the country.

Other places you have listed are all small populations like Canada. That's why we have great medical services. Large size and population means the spending go up exponentially. Since you will have more transmission and distribution.

Cuba is a poor country, and I think that their having a great medical system just goes to show that when there is a will, there is a way.

The problem with the US on healthcare is not about size and population. Sure there are increased spendings associated with a large territory and population, but that also comes with greater economic strength. The problem with the US is that there is no *will*. People are split on the issue. Some believe health care should be universal, others don't want to pay for other people's health care. That, quite simply, is the root of the problem.

 

[Air Force Brat]

That is kinda moving the goal post. Nothing else works in Cuba, I have been there. So having great medical system just means they spend all their money on it and have nothing left for anything else. And if you been there, you would agree they got no money for anything. I'm not talking about just Havana, but the rest of the country.

Other places you have listed are all small populations like Canada. That's why we have great medical services. Large size and population means the spending go up exponentially. Since you will have more transmission and distribution.

thanks PiSigma, you have well illustrated why Cuber is broke,, every dime goes to the GOVT monopoly that is their health care system,,, get the Govt out, let the free market work and determine pricing and availability of services.

We have an excellent system, in fact I had a heart attack, they couldn't do a stint, and I was ON the TABLE at 6:00 the next morning, not gonna happen in Canada Ace! in fact many, many Canadians come to the US and pay out of their own pocket to access the excellent medical care!

Most of my Dr. Friends will tell you, the endless paperwork, bureaucracy, and endless stoopid regulations are taking the Drs. wherewithal to treat their patients out of their hands. Our own Jeff Head with the best Govt Healthcare, had to pay for his own treatments out of his retirement acct, because ObamaCare would not pay for MD Anderson quality care, care that has kept Master Jeff not only alive, but as mobile as he can be, far longer than would have been possible otherwise.
So yes, Obamacare or managed care, is LOW Budget, and second class, in order to spead the care around and let you pay for your non-working neighbors healthcare??

Healthcare is often used as govt blackmail to get people to "go along" with the govt demands?? turn against the state, complain about your poor treatment? fine do without, or worse yet your children will not receive treatment, what they will receive is "counseling" telling them their parents don't really love them, or they would go along with the program, or worse yet, they are un-grateful.

 

[PiSigma]

Cuba is a poor country, and I think that their having a great medical system just goes to show that when there is a will, there is a way.

The problem with the US on healthcare is not about size and population. Sure there are increased spendings associated with a large territory and population, but that also comes with greater economic strength. The problem with the US is that there is no *will*. People are split on the issue. Some believe health care should be universal, others don't want to pay for other people's health care. That, quite simply, is the root of the problem.

I'm a big believer in universal health care. BUT I also believe in the market. What I hope to see in Canada is a dual track system where there is a universal government funded programming for everyone like now. And a private sector where you can pay out of pocket or insurance.

This way, if you can wait for some minor thing, use public. And if you got money and not willing to wait for major surgeries, can go private.

Our current long wait times is pretty bad. Several months wait for minor things because the emergencies always push you back.

 

[Air Force Brat]

I'm a big believer in universal health care. BUT I also believe in the market. What I hope to see in Canada is a dual track system where there is a universal government funded programming for everyone like now. And a private sector where you can pay out of pocket or insurance.

This way, if you can wait for some minor thing, use public. And if you got money and not willing to wait for major surgeries, can go private.

Our current long wait times is pretty bad. Several months wait for minor things because the emergencies always push you back.

and it would be very foolish to suppose that services are better in socialist countries that are poorer than Canada, very foolish indeed.

thank you once again for an honest, succinct post!

 

[PiSigma]

and it would be very foolish to suppose that services are better in socialist countries that are poorer than Canada, very foolish indeed.

thank you once again for an honest, succinct post!

Definitely!
The problem with the communist/socialist equally is that everything falls to the average. You can have great doctors that must only provide average service.

There are great medical centres where I live (Calgary and Edmonton), but only if you go to a specialist centre can you get the best service. For minor things, the average doctor can treat you. So the problem becomes, if there are no specialist centre close by, you are kind of screwed.

The average in Canada is great by world standards, but for something's its better to get the best.

And this applies to Cuba as well. They spend so much on their health care and nothing else. But it is only raising their average. They have no world beating great doctors that royals travel to to get treatment.