Three important points when discussing health care

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

Our local health care meeting was tonight, and Doc was there to make a case for a different kind of health care--one that is caring and centered on improving and maintaining quality of life. Her three big points were as follows:

1. Insurance companies are interested in their bottom lines. Period. They aren't interested in keeping health care costs down because that would cut into their profit margin.

2. Doctors should be trained to and be allowed to see patients as individuals, not as "deviations from a norm". For example, patients can have a "normal" thyroid test yet still exhibit the classic symptoms of hypothryroidism (loss of hair, always feeling cold, etc.). Common sense and even some clinical studies have shown it makes sense to put the patient on thyroid medicine for a limited time to see if the symptoms disappear--yet insurance companies won't pay if you do because the test was "normal". When a doctor treats a patient as an individual, they must take more time with them. Yet some HMOs allow 6-10 minutes per patient visit.

3. Preventive care doesn't mean mammograms, tests for lipids, etc--these are detection measures. Prevention means having patients live a healthy lifestyle--a good diet, some supplements, and exercise. There was a clinical study done over 20 years ago where the lives of 2 groups were looked at over 17 years. The control group just lived their lives. The other group was given a generalized basic "healthy diet", one multi-vitamin a day, and a simple exercise program. At the end of the trial, it was found that the experimental group maintained their health for a longer time span than the control group. Interestingly enough, lifespan itself didn't change--people in both groups tended to die in their 80s. But with the experimental group, they kept their health up until about 9 months before their deaths, where the control group suffered serious health issues long before that. Prevention--good diet, some supplementation, and exercise--meant that the healthy life lasted until almost the end of life.

Thought these were very good points and wanted to share them with more than the handful of folks who showed up at our meeting.

[maddezmom]

1. Thanks for sharing

All good points.

[blue neen]

2. Thanks. We have our meeting tomorrow night.

I'm looking forward to it.

[Donnachaidh]

3. I agree with wanting doctors to spend more TIME with patients

But I don't see that happening, until we take the PROFIT out of healthcare. My doctor books at least 6 patients an hour, and at $150 a pop (my last bill) he's *making* $900 per HOUR. And yes, I know he doesn't get that amount, but he did bill my insurance for that amount.

And people without insurance get charged the full $150. It's OBSCENE.

[yellowdogintexas]

4. my doctor discounts quite nicely if you are uninsured. This was helpful

when we were between coverages last summer. Also, she doesn't participate in the PPO networks we have had in the last two plans so we have a choice of paying full price, and sending it in to go toward our deductible or just pay the discounted amount.

Fortunately the really expensive stuff (facilities, testing, etc) are in the network.

The whole system is a mess, no question about it. Worked in the insurance claims side for many many years, and some of the stuff that is presented to customers as 'insurance' isn't worth the paper and ink it is printed with

[truedelphi]

7. As far as insurance plans not being worth the paper they are written on

Several times in the last decade I have had insurace salespeople tell me that if I cannot afford full coverage, I should select catastrophic health care.

That would have been a good thing in the distant past, when a cancer patient actually was put into the hospital and treated there.

But nowadays, about the only way you will use catastrophic insuranse is if there is an accident involved. If it's an illness, even cancer, you are probably gonna do the out patient route.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Doc runs a nonprofit

and spends a minimum of 1 1/2 hours with a new patient, charging about $150 for that time. If we had socialized medicine with a heart, doctors would be paid to take the time with patients.

[supernova]

5. All very good points

Thanks for the report.

[Naturyl]

8. 6-10 minutes?

Thanks, that just re-affirms my decision to stay the hell away from this entire QUACK health care system until it is replaced by a real single-payer system in which patients actually matter.

I haven't been to a doctor in years, and I don't intend to go unless I'm on death's doorstep.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

10. If you feel so inclined, please check out holistic medicine

In it, the MDs practice compassionate listening, and treat each patient as an individual, not as "Oh, you're a 57 year old man. All your problems come from an enlarged prostate." A holistic physician will truly work with you, individualizing what you need to stay healthy, including tailoring a diet specifically for you (if this is what you need to stay healthy), suggesting supplements that can keep you from having to take expensive prescription drugs, but always ready to use the 'scrip pad if this is what is needed.

Be also aware of this--if single payer insurance is set up by those who espouse to "cookie cutter" medicine, you still won't have the quality of care that you desire. Medicare right now does not acknowledge or allow payment for many holistic practices that are being shown, through clinical trials, to hold great benefit for patients. Why? Because the same people working with for-profit insurance companies have set up the Medicare rules.

[Naturyl]

11. I'd do that, except I'm dirt poor.

Holistic medicine isn't an option due to cost. Medicaid only covers traditional medicine, as far as I know.

[midnight]

9. Sounds real good.