I was listening to a piece on public radio, where they said that doctors are forced by the insurance companies to see X number of patients a day and simply aren't allowed to spend the necessary time with patients to establish rapport and really listen to their problems and draw out otherwise unreported symptoms.

Tell me again why it is that corporate bureaucrats are allowed to tell professionals how they need to be practicing their profession?

And the doctors take the blame for the mistakes, and the patients take the blame for the rising cost of liability insurance.

Of course, the governing boards of some states do very little to discipline bad doctors either.

Some of the oversight by Insurance companies is because of the intense use of kick-backs to doctors if they use enough of certain medicines. Insurance companies push back to lower costs. There's a lot of reasons, but that's one that comes to mind.

Maybe they would lower costs if they gave doctors enough time to figure out what the hell is wrong with a person the first time they see them.

Rocky's gall bladder problem was waved off as "the flu" by an ER doctor, and it delayed treatment for nearly a week. Rocky was a lot sicker, and required much more medical care than he would have had the diagnosis been appropriate the first time. Also, The thyorid problem I had that the doctor refused to diagnose impacted my health much more than it should have, and could very well have killed me, as I was very sick by the time I got to the the nurse practitioner who finally ran the test and diagnosed it. If depression and fatigue and such were not part of the disease, I would have stood up to the bully of a doctor, but I couldn't at that time.

So if we want to control health costs (does anyone think we could pull off lowering health costs?), seems to me that part of the deal would be making sure the system works correctly. This might not seem very "efficient" at first, but in the end, it's penny-wise and pound foolish to do otherwise.

My facvorite perscription for health care reform that people can do at home: Preventive care,(healthy living, eat right, exercise), insist on genarics whenever possible, and be in charge of your medical care. (stay informed, ask questions, make the doctor explain everything to you until you understand it, get second opinions before embarking on treatment).

I would also add, check up on your doctor and make sure they have a good reputation. I also use a nurse practitioner for my general medical needs. I don't need an Ear Nose and Throat specialist to diagnose a sinus infection. My nurse practitioner knows that I pretty much know what's going on with my body, and listens to me. It works great. I see an allergy/athsma specialist, though.

Somehow, I think these things will do more good than simply buying another kind of insurance and sending off regular payments for another company to jerk me around when I need them to come through on the services I paid for.

Oh Ron! Ron, Ron, Ron...

What are you doing??? Unbelievable. I back you to the point of even trying to defend some of your religious statements, only to get rightfully blasted in the process. I tell people that you are "the man" when it comes to voting and pushing for constitutional laws. And what do I receive in return?

Oh the pain - the agony! Don't you know that insurance companies are the biggest part of the problem with health care?!? Now you want more?!?

I think I'm gonna be sick... Oh, wait! I can't afford to be sick.

[groan] [sigh] [mumble]...

Wow. There's someone out there who's vastly more friendly to the insurance companies than Hillary Clinton?

Hey, Mark - you may have a better candidate to support!

<ducks and runs>

Hillary Clinton !?!?

Just the sound of her voice puts me on edge. Kinda like running fingernails on a chalk board - only a thousand times worse.

Run fast Rick! And don't come back! ;)

We have our facial recognition system in place! We know what you look like. Our newest robo-cop will arest you on sight if you come back.

I think we can all agree that the fine pickin's are mighty slim (or non-existant).

So far as I can tell, I'm just going to have to hold my nose while I vote and shower thoroughly afterwards.

At least I'm rock solid on the ticket I'm going to vote for the school board. Sigh.

In these volatile times it is the duty of every true blue American to let their voice be heard. I recomend doing so by taking place in the poll below. You'll be participating in the process and have a nice little cathartic moment all in one go.
Cheers!
Bob

http://www.joecartoon.com/cartoons/649-blender_poll_trailer