For my money I prefer the private care in a place like Thailand. You actually have levels of service– it is your choice, not some doctor’s association. You don’t need them to tell you who’s a good doctor, everyone knows.

If there’s an experimental treatment, I can choose it instead of the FDA allowing (!) me to choose it. Some bureaucrat holds off a new treatment because of possible deaths, but ignores the numbers of deaths that occur during the approval process. It’s pathetic.

The problem in this country is very much about privatization, and the fact that we have far too little of it. Far too little choice, and far too much government already. We have such an insane maze of regulation we end up with a lot of one-size-fits-all solutions.

For those that want more government, head on over to the VA or get on Medicaid before you prescribe the same for all the rest of us.

The extremes of defensive medicine and privacy paranoia are destroying our health infrastructure. As far as I can see, the only folks who come out winners are the insurance companies. As for the doctors, my Dad pockets pennies from every dollar his office officially bills.

I have experienced two serious illnesses in my family over the last few years. My grandmother died at the beginning of last year after suffering with emphysema for a few years. My great uncle eventually died at the end of last year from rapidly progressing bone cancer after surviving with prostate cancer for nearly 20 years.

I was hardly involved at all in my grandmother’s situation, as my aunt lives much closer (geographically) to my grandparents than I or my parents do. I was tangentially involved in my great uncle’s care because he lived much closer to myself and my parents, and because my mother was the executor of his will.

However, the only advice I ended up getting out of that situation is that there are professionals that can help handle all of your medical bills, etc. if you have the money to pay them (which he certainly did).

Regarding the information being posted over the Internet, I think there are too many security/privacy concerns to make that a reality any time soon. With all of the cases lately of people getting their hands on sensitive information from large companies’ databases, I can’t really blame the medical community for keeping that stuff under wraps.

What they need is a twitter like service for patients. In fact maybe someone could develop a system with some hardware that the nurse could simply add data.

I like the Twitter idea!

CN has treated me to multiple hours of great thought and conversations. The least i can do is reciprocate with free access to a year of MBM for you and your siblings.

Let me know how i can help!

christopher

True, some need intesive care after an operation or life-threatening reasons, but so many others don’t.

Dribble drabbles of workers visit a couple of times a day to take vital signs, administer meds, take you to the basement for x-rays or MRI scans. I could privately pay for an around the clock nurse at home and it would be cheaper than staying in a hospital.

I’ve started to see some mobilecare services such as at-home x-rays, bloodwork, etc. In some USA states, the paperwork process of the supplier and the insurance companies comprise
50% of the cost!

Again, I’ve noticed websites springing up that are trying to fix this. One offers a service that reads your blood pressure via a USB device. Another lists places for labwork that are identical to labs used by my hospitals and docs, but it costs about half of what you’re charged via your insurance company. Why? The only difference is that you use the website to schedule your own appointment (much like selecting your own seat on an airplane)and pre-pay with a credit card. No paperwork!

Democracy and technology breeds innovation and creativity.
If socialized medicine comes to America, we’re screwed!

And speaking of dinosaurs, we’ve been fighting fires with water for too long. I’ve watched huge factories burn to oblivion while firefighters stand there with a water hose! Firefighters are some of the bravest people alive, but talk about a primitive process.

All said, life is great.

betaBonnie