To those of you about to "go it on your own"

[daru1]

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Members don't see this ad.

Especially those about to practice in Mass.

http://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2008/03/senate_presiden.html

discuss

 

[Castro Viejo]

"'Our efforts today are crucial to the future vitality of our health care system and our economy,' Murray said in a statement."

One of the many reasons I'm not a fan of Boston or Massachusetts in general is its pseudo socialist, ultra-liberal policies.

That and, of course, the Red Sux and the Patriochokes.

 

[Amelia]

"'Our efforts today are crucial to the future vitality of our health care system and our economy,' Murray said in a statement."

There was an article out recently about how california is becoming the leader in the medical world, i.e. no more will a relatively smally number of hospitals i.e. the Harvards be seen as a leader in the medical world. Anyone who has rotated at boston hospitals, especially the community ones know how backwards and inefficient they are and run by some of the unfriendliest people . . . Mass. will face a dire physician shortage, for all of their bragging about free care, there are not enough good doctors to deliver this care and Mass is becoming more and more physician unfriendly, MGH may be a good place for a residency, but I would guess most would go to nicer states to practice which aren't so anti-physician. I think the concern is that this bill will "let people choose" nurse practicioners as their PCP, I wouldn't dream of sending my kids to an NP over a good pediatrician (I have seen even some PA in pediatric ERs who didn't know basic things about kids), . . . MA is messed up!

 

[Faebinder]

Gosh, that article is such garbage...

Those guys doing these legislations obviously have no idea what a physician has to do to qualify to do anything. At a certain point you just get sick of it.

Am I qualified to scratch my head?

Tell you what... when the senate stops accepting "gifts" from pharm companies, then we can make docs stop accepting "gifts" from them as well.

oh that's right... we call them pharm reps... they call them "lobbyists". So it's okay for lobbyists but not for the reps. Cause obviously the senate work does not need to be as ethical as the physician work.

 

[DadofDr2B]

Gosh, that article is such garbage...

Those guys doing these legislations obviously have no idea what a physician has to do to qualify to do anything. At a certain point you just get sick of it.

Am I qualified to scratch my head?

Tell you what... when the senate stops accepting "gifts" from pharm companies, then we can make docs stop accepting "gifts" from them as well.

oh that's right... we call them pharm reps... they call them "lobbyists". So it's okay for lobbyists but not for the reps. Cause obviously the senate work does not need to be as ethical as the physician work.

You have a little problem with freedom of speech. This will face a constitutional challege if it becomes law.

 

[Faebinder]

You have a little problem with freedom of speech. This will face a constitutional challege if it becomes law.

You underestimate the power of a bandwagon.

 

[Castro Viejo]

"'Our efforts today are crucial to the future vitality of our health care system and our economy,' Murray said in a statement."

There was an article out recently about how california is becoming the leader in the medical world, i.e. no more will a relatively smally number of hospitals i.e. the Harvards be seen as a leader in the medical world. Anyone who has rotated at boston hospitals, especially the community ones know how backwards and inefficient they are and run by some of the unfriendliest people . . . Mass. will face a dire physician shortage, for all of their bragging about free care, there are not enough good doctors to deliver this care and Mass is becoming more and more physician unfriendly, MGH may be a good place for a residency, but I would guess most would go to nicer states to practice which aren't so anti-physician. I think the concern is that this bill will "let people choose" nurse practicioners as their PCP, I wouldn't dream of sending my kids to an NP over a good pediatrician (I have seen even some PA in pediatric ERs who didn't know basic things about kids), . . . MA is messed up!

As much as I think California's great. I love the weather. I love the mountains. I love the 405 and the 101.

I just don't see how it'll be a "medical leader." Do you mean at the forefront of academic medicine? Or as a leader in the delivery of healthcare? If it's the former, it's already kind of there. UCSF, UCLA, and to some degree, Stanford are toppers in the academic medical world. Beats out the likes of many of Boston's non-Harvard affiliates, in my opinion. But in terms of healthcare delivery, I think it's quite poor. Average wait times in L.A.'s EDs is way longer than the national average. And with the Governator wanting to make California the poster child for "this is how universal health care can f_ck a state up in a short period of time," healthcare in California will only suffer more.

In terms of healthcare delivery, I think New York City does a rather decent job in getting its people quality healthcare in a timely fashion. Our system is probably as taxed, if not more so, than the California charity system, but our average ED wait times are less, our infant mortality is lower (this is from several years ago, so I don't know what the current numbers are, by the way), etc. What suffers in New York City is academic medicine. The system sucks as does the training (for all you folks out there who are thinking about pursuing residency training in New York City).

 

[Amelia]

"'Our efforts today are crucial to the future vitality of our health care system and our economy,' Murray said in a statement."

As much as I think California's great. I love the weather. I love the mountains. I love the 405 and the 101.

I just don't see how it'll be a "medical leader." Do you mean at the forefront of academic medicine? Or as a leader in the delivery of healthcare? If it's the former, it's already kind of there. UCSF, UCLA, and to some degree, Stanford are toppers in the academic medical world. Beats out the likes of many of Boston's non-Harvard affiliates, in my opinion. But in terms of healthcare delivery, I think it's quite poor. Average wait times in L.A.'s EDs is way longer than the national average. And with the Governator wanting to make California the poster child for "this is how universal health care can f_ck a state up in a short period of time," healthcare in California will only suffer more.

I mean that Boston will fall as a leader of academic medicine (and is no longer *the* leader in academic medicine), the governor or someone in Mass is giving a grant to UMass to improve electronic chart technology to be a leader in healthcare delivery (something that a lot of good VAs have actually already done), to save Boston's falling position. . . I would agree that California has more brains due to several institutions which trump the Harvards, i.e. UCLA, Stanford, UCSF, . . . hopefully this will mean that when CNN or the mass media needs a consultant for an important healthcare issue they will pick someone out West in Cali, instead of always some Northeastern from Boston . . .I would totally agree that NY has its act together much better than MA, . . . I think a lot of people in academic medicine are tired of a bunch of pompous professors from the northeast and Boston in particular whom act like they are morally and intellectually superior. . .

 

[Gravi69]

"'Our efforts today are crucial to the future vitality of our health care system and our economy,' Murray said in a statement."

One of the many reasons I'm not a fan of Boston or Massachusetts in general is its pseudo socialist, ultra-liberal policies.

That and, of course, the Red Sux and the Patriochokes.

Low blow

 

[pseudoknot]

As much as I think California's great. I love the weather. I love the mountains. I love the 405 and the 101.

You love the 405!? Dude. That's like saying you love Victoria's Secret models because of how smart they are.

 

[Castro Viejo]

You love the 405!? Dude. That's like saying you love Victoria's Secret models because of how smart they are.

In my limited L.A. traffic experience I've learned to despise just about every freeway there is in that traffic nightmare of a town. The 405 gets my vote for most accident prone interstate while going only an average of 10.2 MPH. The 101 gets my vote for most accident prone when trying to make the merge onto the 110 in Downtown.

I dunno. I've never had good experiences driving there. I smashed up two rental cars, one on each of the above named freeways because Angelenos:

1) drive like maniacs.
2) forget when the red lights light up on the car they're following, that means said car is slowing the f_ck down.
3) forget that wet roadways suggests you should drive slower and be prepared to stop earlier than usual.

A fellow New Yorker beat me to it, but here's a great blog.

http://www.lacantdrive.com/

It's awesome. And great for hearing about how ******ed people are in Los Anegels behind the wheel.

 

[pseudoknot]

In my limited L.A. traffic experience I've learned to despise just about every freeway there is in that traffic nightmare of a town. The 405 gets my vote for most accident prone interstate while going only an average of 10.2 MPH. The 101 gets my vote for most accident prone when trying to make the merge onto the 110 in Downtown.

I dunno. I've never had good experiences driving there. I smashed up two rental cars, one on each of the above named freeways because Angelenos:

1) drive like maniacs.
2) forget when the red lights light up on the car they're following, that means said car is slowing the f_ck down.
3) forget that wet roadways suggests you should drive slower and be prepared to stop earlier than usual.

Hmm. I didn't catch the sarcasm and actually thought you were saying you liked those freeways. There ARE some freeways worth liking in California, but not those two (actually the 101 in Northern CA is quite pretty).

Are you sure you should be throwing around stereotypes about people who can't drive? I'm just sayin'. Besides, at least Angelenos don't drive 5mph under the speed limit in every lane like Virginians.

Anyway, although my wife will likely force us to go back there, I'm not really a fan of LA and won't spend too much more time defending it. San Francisco, on the other hand...

 

[Castro Viejo]

There ARE some freeways worth liking in California, but not those two (actually the 101 in Northern CA is quite pretty).

North of San Francisco into Sausalito it's nice. South of it, going through South San Francisco, looks like any other California freeway. Wide and jammed.

Are you sure you should be throwing around stereotypes about people who can't drive? I'm just sayin'.

Why not? New Yorkers are some of this country's most careful drivers, believe it or not.

Besides, at least Angelenos don't drive 5mph under the speed limit in every lane like Virginians.

Word up. I was in Richmond once where I was minding my own business, driving down the main drag near MCV, and this lady in the lane next to me just threw her blinker on and cut into my lane -- almost running me into oncoming traffic!

The problem with Angelenos is that they drive 30-40 over the speed limit and then fail to recognize that, at those speeds, one needs to be more alert than usual and learn to use the brakes a hell of a lot sooner.

Anyway, although my wife will likely force us to go back there, I'm not really a fan of LA and won't spend too much more time defending it. San Francisco, on the other hand...

At least you'll have nicer weather than in Virginia.

 

[pseudoknot]

North of San Francisco into Sausalito it's nice. South of it, going through South San Francisco, looks like any other California freeway. Wide and jammed.

It's kind of nice near the 85 connector around Mountain View. PCH and CA-17 are certainly a lot nicer though.

Why not? New Yorkers are some of this country's most careful drivers, believe it or not.

No, I meant Asians. I kid, I kid!

The problem with Angelenos is that they drive 30-40 over the speed limit and then fail to recognize that, at those speeds, one needs to be more alert than usual and learn to use the brakes a hell of a lot sooner.

Maybe the speed limits are too low. I guess it's just what I'm used to. I do know how to use the brakes!

At least you'll have nicer weather than in Virginia.

Yeah, but not for another three years. Not until I arrived here did I realize how spoiled I've been.

 

[Castro Viejo]

It's kind of nice near the 85 connector around Mountain View.

I have family in Mountain View on Montecito Avenue. I haven't been there in a few years, so I don't know those roads quite as well as in Los Angeles (all those damn Asians in Alhambra, Monterey Park, etc.), so I'll trust you on that one. The only thing I remember is how to drive to Stanford, pick up the 101 to get to San Francisco, and this awesome el cheapo burrito place near Montecito Avenue. Are you from the Mountain View area?

PCH is nice though.

No, I meant Asians. I kid, I kid!

That's messed up, man. Our peeps come in two varieties as drivers. Terrible or pretty good/almost dangerous. I fall into the latter category, I think. 🙂

Maybe the speed limits are too low. I guess it's just what I'm used to. I do know how to use the brakes!

Too bad no one else in L.A. knows.

Yeah, but not for another three years. Not until I arrived here did I realize how spoiled I've been.

Yeah, but you're in Richmond, VA. WTF?

 

[pseudoknot]

I have family in Mountain View on Montecito Avenue. I haven't been there in a few years, so I don't know those roads quite as well as in Los Angeles (all those damn Asians in Alhambra, Monterey Park, etc.), so I'll trust you on that one. The only thing I remember is how to drive to Stanford, pick up the 101 to get to San Francisco, and this awesome el cheapo burrito place near Montecito Avenue. Are you from the Mountain View area?

I'm originally from Berkeley & SF, but did undergrad in Santa Cruz and then moved to LA for grad school. I really think California should be split into two different states.

Yeah, but you're in Richmond, VA. WTF?

I was exiled. What can I say, it's hard to get into med school and MCV accepted me, so here I am...it's really not bad here, but hard to compete with the Bay Area, IMO.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Sorry I vote for Jersey drivers as being the worst.

Its not so much skill problems they have but rather a seemingly inherent arrogance which makes them believe that they HAVE to be first in line, even if that means driving up on the shoulder to get around the people in front of them (despite several warning signs miles ahead that the lane would be closed).

 

[pseudoknot]

Sorry I vote for Jersey drivers as being the worst.

Its not so much skill problems they have but rather a seemingly inherent arrogance which makes them believe that they HAVE to be first in line, even if that means driving up on the shoulder to get around the people in front of them (despite several warning signs miles ahead that the lane would be closed).

Oh I HATE when people do that. I usually decide where I'm going to merge and then stay just behind that car, but without moving to the center of the lane so people can't go around me. I realize that a sane person would just not worry about what other people do, but I can't help it.

 

[Castro Viejo]

Sorry I vote for Jersey drivers as being the worst.

Its not so much skill problems they have but rather a seemingly inherent arrogance which makes them believe that they HAVE to be first in line, even if that means driving up on the shoulder to get around the people in front of them (despite several warning signs miles ahead that the lane would be closed).

That's something they picked up across the Hudson in New York City. 😉 They got the mad skillz to go wit' the 'Slade...

It's official. Angelenos are the worst drivers in America. This blog says so.

http://www.lacantdrive.com/

 

[Castro Viejo]

I'm originally from Berkeley & SF, but did undergrad in Santa Cruz and then moved to LA for grad school. I really think California should be split into two different states.

The Pinko Commie state (NorCal) and the Lazy Cokehead state (SoCal)? If it wasn't for some of the people, the gang wars in L.A., and the maddening freeway driving, California would be awesome!

I was exiled. What can I say, it's hard to get into med school and MCV accepted me, so here I am...it's really not bad here, but hard to compete with the Bay Area, IMO.

You must've been pretty special to get into a state school that's not even your home state. California's a tough place to get into for med school anyway.

Richmond is an okay town. Lots of history. Too bad for all the crime. A friend of mine went down there for residency at MCV. His first week there he was driving down some street and had the right of way. Some guy ran a stop sign and slammed into his side. The offending gentleman got out of his car and exclaimed, "WTF?" and then sucker-punched my friend in the face, bloodying his nose and actually breaking it.

I mean, I understand that you might be upset if someone slammed into you without due cause on your part. But to sucker punch someone whose car YOU just messed up? Ain't seem right.

Bay Area's nice. Just exclude Oakland and it should all be fine.

 

[pseudoknot]

The Pinko Commie state (NorCal) and the Lazy Cokehead state (SoCal)? If it wasn't for some of the people, the gang wars in L.A., and the maddening freeway driving, California would be awesome!

We have pinko commies in the south too. Ever been to Santa Monica? Or Santa Barbara?

You must've been pretty special to get into a state school that's not even your home state. California's a tough place to get into for med school anyway.

Richmond is an okay town. Lots of history. Too bad for all the crime. A friend of mine went down there for residency at MCV. His first week there he was driving down some street and had the right of way. Some guy ran a stop sign and slammed into his side. The offending gentleman got out of his car and exclaimed, "WTF?" and then sucker-punched my friend in the face, bloodying his nose and actually breaking it.

I mean, I understand that you might be upset if someone slammed into you without due cause on your part. But to sucker punch someone whose car YOU just messed up? Ain't seem right.

Bay Area's nice. Just exclude Oakland and it should all be fine.

You know, if there's one thing I've learned in med school, it's that I'm not special.

The good thing about the crime is that the MCV ED is usually pretty entertaining. Both GSWs I've seen there so far were really lame though.

 

[Castro Viejo]

We have pinko commies in the south too. Ever been to Santa Monica? Or Santa Barbara?

Yeah, but a lot of the pinko commies are the same "disenfranchised" people who sleep under the palms on Ocean Avenue by the Pier. They're harmless if not unsightly! 🙂

The good thing about the crime is that the MCV ED is usually pretty entertaining. Both GSWs I've seen there so far were really lame though.

It gets pretty bad there. A friend of mine who trained there says the summers on trauma are positively the worst.