doctor talk.

[gfrancie]

This is a fantastic and fascinating article written by a doctor in The New Yorker. It explores the varying costs of health-care around the country and specific models. It examines why this one area in Texas spends the most on health-care per person in the United States and how it compares in terms of quality of care to other places. It really does touch on the collective responsibility that will need to be taken when it comes to health-care reform. From insurance companies, to doctors to patients.
I live in a city that was noted for having lower health-care costs and at least in my personal experience with my doctors I do notice that they don't go all out on the tests and so on. I read an article awhile back that talked to a few doctors and they discussed that there is a significant trend for doctors to go into specialization vs. being a regular GP. And more and more people are sent to specialists so that the GP is almost seen as a middle-man to hand out referrals. Of course some of that is related to how insurance companies work. I have a regular GP and I think one of the things I have liked about her is that she isn't a fan of multiple tests or excess anything. What really struck me about her as being there for her patients is the fact that one time I thought I might have strep and so I went in for a quick throat culture. She called me at home on the weekend, herself and said, "the test came back positive but you have a strain that doesn't require antibiotics. Some doctors might give them to you, but your immune system isn't compromised and and if you just take care of yourself (fluids and so on) it should heal on its own." The real theme of her approach to treatment is to not be so invasive and often it ends up being cheaper for me. My OB/GYN's office doesn't make you come in for an appointment if you just have a question. (this is one way for some doctors to rack up the cash as it were) They usually get an NP or a doctor on call to get back to you and usually sort out if in person treatment is really required or not. (and often it isn't) I think in some ways it also keeps space open so that they can still see plenty of people and not clogging up the time.
Anyhow, the article is about 8 pages long, but if you have the time do read it. Very eye-opening.

Comments

[molliewollie.livejournal.com]

That was fascinating. Thank you for posting it.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Welcome.
It gives me some hope and some insight into what can be done to help people.

[homc.livejournal.com]

Great article! I love how it mentioned that it wasn't the cost of high damages due to litigation. One of my favorite questions to doctors when they whine about the cost of malpractice insurance and start talking about how that is the problem with the cost of medicine is to ask them how much they pay for that insurance as opposed to how much they make.

When I did my post on volunteering at a hospital, someone mentioned in the comments section the cost of special interests in medicine. Maybe that person was making some sense.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

That dinner with the other doctors was really interesting. It was the one surgeon who called bullshit on all of it that got me. He was genuinely honest about the cost of things. It makes sense to order certain tests and things when you aren't entirely sure or you know it will do the proper good. But there is a common theme in the article about doctors thinking. It seems like some of the best doctoring I have seen has been about thinking and using a great deal of common sense. There was also the approach to medicine at the Mayo clinic that intrigued me. That there was such a collective sense of team work. Sharing and thinking together about how best to provide care for a patient. It is the balance of community for the sake of the individual.

[wankle.livejournal.com]

"It really does touch on the collective responsibility that will need to be taken when it comes to health-care reform."

That sounds like evil, evil socialism to me! My responsibility is to earn enough money to buy the best healthcare in the world. Why should poor people get something for free that I've worked so hard for? AMERICA, FUCK YEAH! ;)

That is a very good article.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Little known fact, first draft of the United States motto was indeed, America, FUCK YEAH! (Rumored to be Alexander Hamilton's idea)

Sweet sweet evil socialism. Good with cheese on top.

[needlediva.livejournal.com]

alexander hamilton, that bastard. it figures.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Hey now... Alexander Hamilton is one of my favorite poonhounds of the American Revolutionary age. (Ben Franklin is the other one)
A man who upon being threatened to reveal his slutty nature with the ladies essentially said, "yeah...and?"

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Besides I know you still have your grudge against Aaron Burr.

[needlediva.livejournal.com]

i was just about to say--
now aaron burr--THERE was a sonovabitch.

[utsi.livejournal.com]

interesting from a canadian perspective. just got a lab req from my GP, and there's a fair bit there. likely more than needed. so i'm very intrigued

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Maybe this is how Canada helps to pay for things. Add a few extra tests!