Yeah, our health care system is broke
Yeah, our health care system is broke.
And there are numerous parts that need fixing. But the one that chaps my hide the most is when doctors know you are in the health care field, I am forced to call my primary knowing I need a specialty consult. AND I HAVE TO GO IN, PAY MY DOCTOR FOR SOMETHING I ALREADY KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO TELL ME. “Oh, you need to go see a specialist.” No S#!+!!! Now I am all for a capitalistic system but when this kind of nonsense is present, when does it stop?! What causes a doctor to forgo common sense from someone in the medical field? What drives a doctor to accept a minimal, measly copay? Is it a cut of ‘their fair share’? Have they been burned by the current mentality of society and system for which they now have to care? Part of my chaffing is also knowing that the specialist to whom she is going to send me… is her husband’s clinic and then I get to pay him double my copay, just because he’s a specialist?! Am I scratching the surface of an ethical issue here? These folks are well respected and are really good docs. I guess the blame comes down to accountability and knowing those, much like our guests that come to the ER for a chronic toothache, that abuse they system are the reason for this nonsense. Thoughts?
I’m a veterinarian. I, too, am perfectly capable of determining when I need a consultation with a specialist. So I also think this is ridiculous and primarily motivated by profit on the part of physicians. Actually, I’m also fully capable of ordering and interpreting my own labwork and reading my own radiology and pathology reports and refuse to make appointments solely to “discuss results”. I ask physicians to fax over a complete copy of my medical records, thank you, because I’ll leave the practice if the physician insists I come in, which I will not do unless I have actual questions. I never have any questions and use up no staff time.
No, I am not kidding.
And yes, I avoid the medical profession except when absolutely necessary.