What in da HAIIILLLL has happaned to AMSA??

[pxz]

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Originally posted by Gleevec

I think the Canadians in terms of PROVIDING care to everyone has it right

I think we have done that in the US. People might not have health insurance but they do have access to health care. We are PROVIDING care to everyone.

 

[aphistis]

That's a pretty flimsy assertion. Uninsured individuals have the ED and charity clinics. Neither is exactly what the doctor ordered when it comes to real disease management or other medical care.

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by pxz
I think we have done that in the US. People might not have health insurance but they do have access to health care. We are PROVIDING care to everyone.

Uhhhhh, no. There is a certain threshold of care (being able to stay in a hospital after delivery or surgery for X days, having a routine cholesterol exam, etc) that most people can't afford since they don't have health insurance.

I think that while the US won't resort to a socialist system for a variety of reasons, I do think we will see a National Health Insurance plan to make sure everyone without insurance is covered. Sure its expensive, but we're talking about people's lives here.

 

[periodic]

Right, check out the IOM's reports on the uninsured.

http://www.iom.edu/report.asp?id=17632

There are clear consequences (at least that they found) of lacking insurance on health, including mortality.

 

[8744]

Originally posted by Gleevec
Uhhhhh, no. There is a certain threshold of care (being able to stay in a hospital after delivery or surgery for X days, having a routine cholesterol exam, etc) that most people can't afford since they don't have health insurance.

I think that while the US won't resort to a socialist system for a variety of reasons, I do think we will see a National Health Insurance plan to make sure everyone without insurance is covered. Sure its expensive, but we're talking about people's lives here.

Hang on Chochise, our large urban charity hospital is full of poor patients staying in the hospital for X days after surgery and very few of of them actually pay anything for their care. And they get top-rate care, too. Probably better then they would get in a private hospital even if the facilities are not as plush. (semi-private as opposed to private rooms.)

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by Panda Bear
Hang on Chochise, our large urban charity hospital is full of poor patients staying in the hospital for X days after surgery and very few of of them actually pay anything for their care. And they get top-rate care, too. Probably better then they would get in a private hospital even if the facilities are not as plush. (semi-private as opposed to private rooms.)

Thats really great that your city has a large urban charity hospital, but the fact is, not all cities are so well-endowed nor do they provide the quality of medical care that your hospital apparently provides.

Im glad there are hospitals like yours out there, we just need more of them, with better funding from the govt.

 

[ajgoins]

The Canadian/Euro health care systems sound pretty tempting...but before we walk down that road we'd better figure out why the Canadian PM came to the States to be treated when he got sick (and I'm pretty sure he wasn't here to rub elbows with W)...or why the Saudis went to itty-bitty Rochester, MN instead of Madrid when death was knocking at their door. I think it has a lot to do with the old proverb: "Don't get sick in europe..." - efex101 The Canadians I know like their "base" level of care to ease their minds, but they all know if they don't have money and they get sick they're screwed. Either way you'll have a two-tiered hc system. "If you think health care is expensive now, wait until it's free for everyone."

It's a little difficult these days for doctors to rationalize their positions. They all want to PROVIDE the best care possible but they get demonized by certain political forces for wanting to make $200,000+/year and advocating for a free market healthcare system. Being in the top tax-bracket isn't an option for doctors these days b/c of the huge loan ($150,000+) and insurance payments they have to make every year. Plus the testimony of so many Spaniards, etc about the terrible state of medical care in their countries is just plain spooky. I just find it hard to believe that the stories from these people about the countries which are supposedly the bastions of health care equality, are "short-sighted." If they don't like the system, why are we modeling it?

I've always been amazed at some folk's view of the government as this wonderful benevolent force. I wouldn't invest my worst enemy's health in a government that racks up a $500 billion deficit and still throws robots at Mars. If tossing those salt crystals from Mars don't turn Lake Superior into the healing waters of Lourdes, it's a total waste of money.

 

[8744]

Originally posted by Gleevec
Thats really great that your city has a large urban charity hospital, but the fact is, not all cities are so well-endowed nor do they provide the quality of medical care that your hospital apparently provides.

Im glad there are hospitals like yours out there, we just need more of them, with better funding from the govt.

Shoot. I'm in Louisiana. We rank number 49 or 50 of all the states in everything bad. Additionally, Shreveport is one of the poorest cities of its size in the United States and we draw patients from about a 100 mile radius comprising some of the poorest rural areas this side of Albania.

So we are not exactly ahead of the curve in our ability to deliver helath care to the poor but we manage. The poor in our country apparently get better health care then the lucky citizens of those countries with free, universal health care.

 

[Buck Strong]

You know, i've been doing some research into the AMA, and AMSA. Initially, I joined both for the free netter, and whatever the AMA gave me, but now looking at the organizations, and their main stance...I think I might cancel AMSA and support the AMA. It's alot less left than AMSA is. The AMA has made their main priority in medical liability reform, which I think is a little better and managable of a cause than national health (plus, the socialist healthcare system isn't really what i signed up for). I urge some of you to rethink the reasons why you signed up for AMSA and the AMA...it only took me two years after signing up to get around it it.

 

[dave262]

Roger that,

I've cancelled my AMSA membership too.

In fact lets start a thread on this...