Dumb Canuck (please help!)

[Chieka]

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I just realized that I don't know very much about the U.S. health care system (and current issues). I have an interview soon, and I'm afraid. 😱

Can anybody please suggest a sort of primer (book, magazine, website)? I've been looking at USnews, but it hasn't been very helpful.

Thanks,

C.

 

[streetdoc]

My information will come at a price.
(just kidding!)
i know there is a book title floating around out there in SDNland, but i can't think of it right now...i believe tweetie is reading it.
anyway, i have the same question for you (and any canadians).
what is the healthcare system like in Canada? are there any books or websites you could point me toward?
thanks, streetdoc

you could maybe do a search for the book here on SDN or contact tweetie

 

[Chieka]

Right now is a crucial time for Canadian health care. Today something called the "Romanow report" (outlining major changes in health care) came out - it's the top story in all the newspapers and news stations. I really only had a general idea about the Canadian health system before this, but I've learned so much just by following the coverage; I suggest you do the same. The media is doing a decent job of giving background and interview all sorts of people, so you get an overall picture.

Online, check canada.com. Search Romanow and you will be linked to online coverage of the report.

You can also get the Globe and Mail. They are doing a one week series on it (almost done), then they'll be doing another two-week series on Canadian health care. If you can't access the print copy, check it out online at globeandmail.ca. This is Canada's national paper (National Post thinks they are, but they ain't). But it's important that you read it now and the next couple weeks, while it's still a hot topic.

C.

 

[UCLAMAN]

From Chaos to Care by David Lawrence, MD

A quick read. Outlines problems facing healthcare in the US today and possible solutions. Available at your local Barnes and Noble(or whatever bookstore is around you)

 

[14457]

Here are some sites you can look at

http://www.cmwf.org/

http://www.healthaffairs.org/1500_about_journal.php

President/healthcare:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/04/20020429-1.html

HOSPITAL RESIDENTS WORKING TOO HARD?
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20021125&s=mukherjee112502

http://www.magportal.com/c/bus/ind/medical/

us healthcare, how does it effect?
http://classes.kumc.edu/son/nurs430/CStarling/unit 3/hcsys.htm

Here are some various links to articles/websites..I hope they are helpful.

 

[Tweetie_bird]

I heard my name so I came running..... 😀

For info on Canada:

The ultimate site I found was about the Romanow Report.

http://finalreport.healthcarecommission.ca/pdf/HCC_Final_Report.pdf

It's over 350 pages so make sure you SKIM!!

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For info on US:

If you have the time to buy a book from the net, definitely get UNDERSTANDING HEALTHCARE POLICY by Thomas Bodenheimer (sp?). It's an awesome book; very thorough, easy to read. You can get it second hand from amazon or ebay for 7 bucks when the real price is like 37. A MUST read!!

I would say start with there. Those are the two basics.

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An interesting article (a bit philosophical, which makes it fun!)

http://libertyonline.hypermall.com/hnr.html

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I have a whole bunch of articles that I had posted earlier on SDN in my Official News/Current Events thread. Nobody was helping me bump it up so I let it die. 🙁

 

[momoco way]

i'm a fellow canuck too. congrats on the interview! at all my interviews, none of my interviewers asked me anything about the US healthcare system. however, i was asked a few times why i would want to pursue a medical education in the US rather than in Canada. so know your reasons. my reason is that US has more funding for biomedical research, so i guess that's why most of my interviewers spent a majority of the interview time asking me questions pertaining to my research rather than healthcare policy issues. besides, who has the answer to the healthcare problem, so relax and have fun at the interview!

 

[Thewonderer]

Canadian health care system:

In a nutshell, public funding for a privately run system. All the money comes from the government, and all the hospitals have to be for non-profit. Everyone is insured by each province. And if the province can promise universality (i.e. 100% of the residents have health insurance) then the federal goverment will help foot the bill. Each province differs a little from each other in terms of minors things (i.e. some health care premium or not; BC charges like 30 bucks per person if you can afford it while Alberta charges NOTHING) but they in theory insure everyone so they can obtain the federal health care funding.

Physicians operate within this system and gets all their pays by billing the provincial government. They are allowed to compete with each other freely for patients (hospitals also compete for patients and bill the government). Hence, privately run system with a single payer funding system (i.e. the government).