US Healthcare discussion moved from Over 50's & 60's thread
Jan 10th 2011, 6:48 am
#196
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
You know, what bothers me too is the waste in the system. Because of intense shoulder pain, my specialist has prescribed drugs, an x-ray and a visit to a physical therapist - all at the same time! Wouldn't it make more sense to have the x-ray, see if that turns up anything and then go for the therapy and/or take the drugs if it's indicated that they will help?
It just seems like there are no limits placed on doctors. And either because they want to help, or because they don't want to be sued, they just throw everything at the wall and see what sticks. In turn the insurance company has to cover all that and still make a profit (the idea of profit in health care is repugnant to me, but it is what it is).
I know most Americans would rear up in horror at the thought of not having every test possible at exactly the moment they want it, but I think it's wasteful and a big problem that the new health care law doesn't go far enough to address.
It just seems like there are no limits placed on doctors. And either because they want to help, or because they don't want to be sued, they just throw everything at the wall and see what sticks. In turn the insurance company has to cover all that and still make a profit (the idea of profit in health care is repugnant to me, but it is what it is).
I know most Americans would rear up in horror at the thought of not having every test possible at exactly the moment they want it, but I think it's wasteful and a big problem that the new health care law doesn't go far enough to address.
Jan 10th 2011, 7:21 am
#197
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Re: US Healthcare discussion moved from Over 50's & 60's thread
I know its off topic but if you think the medical profession is expensive and wasteful you should see care homes, My Mum was in one for five years, believe me I kept my eyes and ears open.
They constantly throw away unused blister packs of drugs, blister packs with one or two gone out of thirty as the patient may have adverse reactions as my Mum did sometimes, those could be given to the poor who don't have access to some drugs.
One of the worst things I saw was the cost of Mums food, My Mum was on a feeding tube, she was in state care, we never got to see individual bills, but one month we were billed in error for her food, the bill was $3900.00 for one months food, Mum was fed cans of baby food, I could buy a months supply at Safeway for $200,00 full retail.
We brought it to someone's attention, she was very surprised they had billed us, she made some excuses and said she would take care of it, Huhhhhhh we all thought something shady was going on, these Care Homes deal with a handful of major corporations most of you have never heard of, and nobody seems to police it, most patients get no visitors and do think the patients have any say, I smell backhanders...
They constantly throw away unused blister packs of drugs, blister packs with one or two gone out of thirty as the patient may have adverse reactions as my Mum did sometimes, those could be given to the poor who don't have access to some drugs.
One of the worst things I saw was the cost of Mums food, My Mum was on a feeding tube, she was in state care, we never got to see individual bills, but one month we were billed in error for her food, the bill was $3900.00 for one months food, Mum was fed cans of baby food, I could buy a months supply at Safeway for $200,00 full retail.
We brought it to someone's attention, she was very surprised they had billed us, she made some excuses and said she would take care of it, Huhhhhhh we all thought something shady was going on, these Care Homes deal with a handful of major corporations most of you have never heard of, and nobody seems to police it, most patients get no visitors and do think the patients have any say, I smell backhanders...
Last edited by Fish n Chips 56; Jan 10th 2011 at 8:09 am.
Jan 10th 2011, 8:05 am
#200
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Location: Las Vegas, Nv
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Jan 10th 2011, 8:08 am
#201
Home Sweet Home
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Surrey, England
Posts: 5,128
Re: US Healthcare discussion moved from Over 50's & 60's thread
I know its off topic but if you think the medical profession is expensive and wasteful you should see care homes, My Mum was in one for five years, believe me I kept my eyes and ears open.
They constantly throw away unused blister packs of drugs, blister packs with one or two gone out of thrity as the patient may have adverse reactions as my Mum did sometimes, those could be given to the poor who don't have access to some drugs.
One of the worst things I saw was the cost of Mums food, My Mum was on a feeding tube, she was in state care, we never got to see individual bills, but one month we were billed in error for her food, the bill was $3900.00 for one months food, Mum was fed cans of baby food, I could buy a months supply at Safeway for $200,00 full retail.
We brought it to someone's attention, she was very surprised they had billed us, she made some excuses and said she would take care of it, Huhhhhhh we all thought something shady was going on, these Care Homes deal with a handful of major corporations most of you have never heard of, and nobody seems to police it, most patients get no visitors and do think the patients have any say, I smell backhanders...
They constantly throw away unused blister packs of drugs, blister packs with one or two gone out of thrity as the patient may have adverse reactions as my Mum did sometimes, those could be given to the poor who don't have access to some drugs.
One of the worst things I saw was the cost of Mums food, My Mum was on a feeding tube, she was in state care, we never got to see individual bills, but one month we were billed in error for her food, the bill was $3900.00 for one months food, Mum was fed cans of baby food, I could buy a months supply at Safeway for $200,00 full retail.
We brought it to someone's attention, she was very surprised they had billed us, she made some excuses and said she would take care of it, Huhhhhhh we all thought something shady was going on, these Care Homes deal with a handful of major corporations most of you have never heard of, and nobody seems to police it, most patients get no visitors and do think the patients have any say, I smell backhanders...
I don't think care homes would be that much different anywhere in the world, you will always get people preying on the weak and vulnerable wherever you are.........that is why they do police checks on you when you work in these places to try and avoid anything of this nature, doesn't always work of course.
I had all kinds of rules as a House Manager in Frome regarding gifts of money and apartments (
) and so on, mind you all I got was some handcream and a packet of biscuits. 
Jan 10th 2011, 8:12 am
#202
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Re: US Healthcare discussion moved from Over 50's & 60's thread
I thought there was no "off topic" on this thread????
I don't think care homes would be that much different anywhere in the world, you will always get people preying on the weak and vulnerable wherever you are.........that is why they do police checks on you when you work in these places to try and avoid anything of this nature, doesn't always work of course.
I had all kinds of rules as a House Manager in Frome regarding gifts of money and apartments () and so on, mind you all I got was some handcream and a packet of biscuits.
I don't think care homes would be that much different anywhere in the world, you will always get people preying on the weak and vulnerable wherever you are.........that is why they do police checks on you when you work in these places to try and avoid anything of this nature, doesn't always work of course.
I had all kinds of rules as a House Manager in Frome regarding gifts of money and apartments (
) and so on, mind you all I got was some handcream and a packet of biscuits.
Jan 10th 2011, 8:34 am
#203
Finally Home!
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Used to be New York, now North Yorkshire
Posts: 3,610
Re: US Healthcare discussion moved from Over 50's & 60's thread
Speaking of healthcare, has anyone seeing "Getting On"? It's a comedy with Joe Brand about an NHS hospital and it's absolutely brilliant. It's one of those slow growers, but so, so clever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvnQW9vxiBc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvnQW9vxiBc
Jan 10th 2011, 8:54 am
#204
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Re: US Healthcare discussion moved from Over 50's & 60's thread
Speaking of healthcare, has anyone seeing "Getting On"? It's a comedy with Joe Brand about an NHS hospital and it's absolutely brilliant. It's one of those slow growers, but so, so clever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvnQW9vxiBc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvnQW9vxiBc
Jan 10th 2011, 9:01 am
#205
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,182
Re: US Healthcare discussion moved from Over 50's & 60's thread
Speaking of healthcare, has anyone seeing "Getting On"? It's a comedy with Joe Brand about an NHS hospital and it's absolutely brilliant. It's one of those slow growers, but so, so clever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvnQW9vxiBc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvnQW9vxiBc
All 4 main characters are absolutely spot on real. And all the extras, ie the patients, are wonderful actors as well. I wonder where they get all those old biddies from - what shows/plays etc have they been in all their working lives (because I don't recognise any of them).
Was surprised at how old and fat our Jo has got though - quite scary!
Jan 10th 2011, 9:44 am
#206
Finally Home!
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Location: Used to be New York, now North Yorkshire
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Re: US Healthcare discussion moved from Over 50's & 60's thread
Yes I know. When did the alternative comedians of our youth get old? I guess that means I'm old too but I refuse to accept it.
I love, love, love that awful doctor! And the gay matron is a hoot.
I love, love, love that awful doctor! And the gay matron is a hoot.
Jan 10th 2011, 10:11 am
#208
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Jan 10th 2011, 10:58 am
#209
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: US Healthcare discussion moved from Over 50's & 60's thread
Well, guys I am off to get my scan..thannk you for all of your kind thoughts. You are a wonderful group of people and I only wish we could all meet one day, so I could tell you in person how much I appreciate all of you support..
It will probably take a couple of days to get the results, but how could they not be good, with all of you having my back..
It will probably take a couple of days to get the results, but how could they not be good, with all of you having my back..
Jan 10th 2011, 11:03 am
#210
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: US Healthcare discussion moved from Over 50's & 60's thread
They do now, all trained medical staff have to had the livescan fingerprints done, so anything country wide comes up and is attached to their license, CNA, LVN, RN. I wondered why it hadn't been done many years back. I couldn't renew mine two years ago without going to get the livescan.
