Hello Friends!I'm currently taking a course on health care policy. I admit that I was dreading it initially; however, I'm finding it to be really interesting.....and humbling. There's so much that I didn't know! My current task is to engage in a project called "Health Care Redesign". Basically the task is in the title. In order to do this, I need a more complete understanding of what is wrong with the status quo. I have quite a few ideas myself, but would love to hear from each of you! Have you had frustrating experiences in health care? What problems have you come up against? Remember, you can add comments anonymously if you wish. To comment, click on the link below that looks something like this ("0 comments") - the number will change based on the number of comments there are. Feel free to pass this along to friends and family if you think someone else may be able to comment.
I hope this finds each of you well and enjoying life.
Megan
7 comments:
Megan,
I've recently learned that pharmacists can refuse to fill a medication as long as they can refer the patient to another pharmacy. The situation I faced was related to the controversy around the medication. Apparently the pharmacist didn't feel it was "right" that I received this particular medication. This seems to me to be incredibly judgmental, the pharmacist didn't know my particular situation and why this medication was so important. I don't live in a particularly large community and was embarrassed. As time passed I was much more than embarrassed, I was angry. They cover themselves by "referring" but the referral can lead to delay which in some cases can be critical to a patient.
The health care industry seems to be in a constant state of reaction when it comes to physical and mental illness. For example, instead of insurance companies covering preventative alternative therapies, such as massage,acupuncture, etc. they are in bed with the pharmaceutical companies that supply medicines to people whose illnesses have progressed due to late treatment. To make the problem worse, doctors seem to have an "in-out" policy, which dictates that each patient get 15 minutes or less in which to
discuss one specific ailment, leaving no time for the doctor to get a whole picture of the causes and conditions around illness. Hence, often causes and conditions that perpetuate illness aren't irradicated, medicine in prescribed, and the cycle continues, ad infinitum.
So,in a nutshell, here's a list of my concerns with the standard health system:
1. Not enough time with a doctor.
2. Preventative "alternative" measures not covered by insurance companies.(Why is it that affluent people who can afford alternative care such as massage, acupuncture, chinese herbs, naturopathic medicine,anthroposophical therapies, etc. are so much healthier than the average
Joe? Hmmmm...)
3. Pharmaceutical industry in bed with insurance companies.
4. Crappy insurance policies - even for those who pay large premiums.
I think Michael Moore sums it up really well in Sicko. Sigh.
Oh healthcare....where do we start:)
I guess I would have to choose my number one complaint as the time the clinician/prescriber spends with you when you visit his or her's office. Even yesterday when I was at the ENT doc's office he sped in the room, cited off a
bunch of yes or no questions, ran out of the room, and then moments later I could hear him talking to another patient next door. He was breaking up appts. and seeing new patients all at the same time! When he finally came back in the room, I tried to elaborate on his questions only to have my elaborations be quickly dismissed and was ordered to go across town to a lab for further testing....geeeezzz...
That said, I know constraints are being placed more and more on providers so whose to blame???
Megan,
My most recent concern in our health care system is a personal experience. In the past year I have had knee pain caused by a running accident and it continues during physical activity. After being passed around from my PCP (after a simple x-ray that showed nothing) to a Orthopedic PA to a Physical Therapist all to avoid charging my insurance company for a costly MRI. After nine months I'm still having the same pain. Nothing has improved although I still continue to do the exercises my PT gave me(our sessions ended after two months). My symptoms eluded him and nothing has stopped the pain. I'm back to square one after paying several co-pays. My concern is that our Health care system is avoiding using technology we currently have due to the cost of operating it.
My biggest concern is the focus of our healthcare system on diagnosing, treating, and paying for existing illnesses. A much larger percent of these resources should be diverted to prevention of disease. It is only this year that insurance companies are being forced to cover preventive colonoscopies, and most still require that your deductible be satisfied before they will chip in. Ultrasound is still not covered as a breast cancer screen despite the well recognized weaknesses of mammography. How about coverage of lipid panels as routine preventive care?
I feel like I've been lucky in that I don't have any horror stories, but in part that is because I'm healthy and I have insurance that allows me to have check up appointments. I've had some minor injuries that seemed to be taken care of rather seamlessly (however I was misdiagnosed the first time my knee was looked at after an injury). But from an observer of the overall system, we have a reactive system rather than a proactive or preventive system and that has proven costly. Healthcare costs at companies and organizations are going through the roof b/c their employees are requiring treatment for conditions that could be prevented by a healthier lifestyle. Since we are spending so much money fixing these problems, less attention is paid to those who really need the help. To me we not only have to provide more healthcare to more peopple, we also need to provide more education and allow people to afford visits to get check ups, not treatments.
Good Day Megan,
I appreciate your theme of "Transforming Health Care", and encourage your intent which Kathy also shares.
First, I refer you to two authors I viewed reviewing their book of C-Span2, Book TV:
Shannon Brownlee, Overtreated http://www.overtreated.com/home.html
Devra L. Davis http://www.environmentaloncology.org/staff_davis.htm various books including The Secret History of the War on Cancer
In an email, she identified her next book will further identify what I will present.
Next I ask: Are you truly aware of the major influences on healthcare? The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufactures Association (PhRMA) and the Health Insurance Companies form the largest consumer lobby group in Washington, D.C.
Kaiser Daily Reports identified Pharmaceutical Industry Spends Record $155M Lobbying Federal Government From 2005 Through First Half of 2006 http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=44024
Reportedly there are 4+ Pharmaceutical Lobbyists in D.C. per member of Congress. Bill Moyers Journal, June 22, 2007, reported a total of 25 Lobbyists per member of Congress. http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/06222007/transcript1.html? Plus just how many in each state? I'm becoming convinced PhRMA and other Healthcare Lobbyists, directly or indirectly, control the entire Consumer Market(s). Maybe they are not as concerned or effective on Energy¿
And, if you're not yet convinced, read Mike Adams, Incessant disease mongering turns Americans into profit-generating guinea pigs for Big Pharma, May 28, 2007 http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=22199 It's a very strong indictment! True, many diseases are biologically based. Yet how many are mongered?
If that hasn't convince you, read Melissa Healy's 5 part, Los Angeles Times Series Examines Pharmaceutical Industry Influence on Physicians, Consumers, August 6, 2007 http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=46696
It becomes rather transparent that PhRMA control the FDA, clinical trials and publications such as the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJA). Via their representatives calling on Doctors, their influence is widespread. PhRMA only release the information for one purpose, to sell more Rx Drugs. Their statements of patient concern are pure rhetoric. Significant adverse side effects are withheld by PhRMA.
Then there is the dollar amount paid by both Medicare and Health Insurance Companies to Doctors. The Doctors payment is cut many times to less than 50% of their 'normal' rate. Typically, Doctors come into the examination room, spend 5 to 20 minutes with the patient, and leave. They have to see as many patients as possible to earn a 'normal' income. A critical problem is Seniors needing a PCP who will accept Medicare. Doctor's nationally are refusing Medicare patients. Adding to the problem, both President Bush and Congress have proposed further reductions of payments to Doctor's and Hospitals in 2008.
"Transforming Health Care" is a major pursuit!!!! Only when a "get the government out of the medical business" type is the U.S. President will it be possible. NOW, December 14, 2007, presented a segment describing Ron Paul's campaign and philosophy. http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/350/index.html I question that he has much of a chance for a nomination. The NOW segment describes this could be changing, and that he has no intent of changing everything overnight. For "The Ron Paul Story" http://www.ronpaul.org/ Mark Twain also recognized that: Government should serve the people, not control them.
The Center for Responsive Politics reports on '08 Presidential Fundraising http://www.opensecrets.org/, including the Pharmaceuticals/Health Products: Top 20 Recipients http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.asp?Ind=H04&cycle=2008 .
Perhaps there is hope! From MedPage Daily Headlines, February 8. 2008, Campaign ’08: Presidential Frontrunners Play it Close to the Vest on Healthcare http://www.medpagetoday.com/Campaign08/Campaign08/dh/8287
I trust your pursuit can be rewarding.
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