http://www.nittanyturkey.com/archives/2006/05/31/138/ Mostly about Penn State football, this is a tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:02:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 http://www.nittanyturkey.com/archives/2006/05/31/138/comment-page-1/#comment-3994 The Nittany Turkey » Blog Archive » Thu, 08 Jun 2006 23:30:15 +0000 http://www.mrbig.com/tnt/archives/2006/05/31/138/#comment-3994 [...] HB: Sorry about that. Well, I know she just sent out a bunch of cards yesterday. [If you read my previous posts on the subject, you recall that I was told that if the test results are normal, I would get a postcard, and if there were anomalies, I would get a phone call.] [...] [...] HB: Sorry about that. Well, I know she just sent out a bunch of cards yesterday. [If you read my previous posts on the subject, you recall that I was told that if the test results are normal, I would get a postcard, and if there were anomalies, I would get a phone call.] [...]

]]> http://www.nittanyturkey.com/archives/2006/05/31/138/comment-page-1/#comment-3585 The Nittany Turkey » Blog Archive » Twenty Days and Counting… Mon, 05 Jun 2006 23:50:18 +0000 http://www.mrbig.com/tnt/archives/2006/05/31/138/#comment-3585 [...] Last Friday, I had an appointment with the colorectal surgeon who gives me my bi-annual colonoscopy. I mentioned his practice in last Wednesday’s rant, noting that I was able to arrange an appointment with him two days in advance instead of the one to five months it takes to get in to see my primary care doc. I sat down in his office and described some relevant symptoms, as well as talking about other, unrelated issues. One of the unrelated issues was the current state of primary care practices. He was appalled by the notion that it would take five months to schedule a physical exam and that blood test results would take over two weeks. “It’s the gatekeeper mentality,” he said, “It’s something that’s contrary to my training and I can’t bring myself to act that way.” On the way out, I expected to be asked for an office visit co-payment, which I would have happily paid, but there was no charge for this consultation. After all, I was scheduling a colonoscopy, and the doc would be paid for it. This was refreshing and it gave me hope for the medical industry in general, although this doctor might be the last of a dwindling breed of concerned physicians. [...] [...] Last Friday, I had an appointment with the colorectal surgeon who gives me my bi-annual colonoscopy. I mentioned his practice in last Wednesday’s rant, noting that I was able to arrange an appointment with him two days in advance instead of the one to five months it takes to get in to see my primary care doc. I sat down in his office and described some relevant symptoms, as well as talking about other, unrelated issues. One of the unrelated issues was the current state of primary care practices. He was appalled by the notion that it would take five months to schedule a physical exam and that blood test results would take over two weeks. “It’s the gatekeeper mentality,” he said, “It’s something that’s contrary to my training and I can’t bring myself to act that way.” On the way out, I expected to be asked for an office visit co-payment, which I would have happily paid, but there was no charge for this consultation. After all, I was scheduling a colonoscopy, and the doc would be paid for it. This was refreshing and it gave me hope for the medical industry in general, although this doctor might be the last of a dwindling breed of concerned physicians. [...]

]]> http://www.nittanyturkey.com/archives/2006/05/31/138/comment-page-1/#comment-3203 The Nittany Turkey Thu, 01 Jun 2006 19:10:53 +0000 http://www.mrbig.com/tnt/archives/2006/05/31/138/#comment-3203 Yeah, I saw it, Pres...er, I mean Doug... I liked the babe with the do-rag. But I don't think that the issues are as simple as would be suggested by that movie. Sure, some docs lack humility, bedside manner, and empathy with patients who must endure dehumanizing treatment at the behest of their staffs, but it goes beyond that into our stupid system of expectations and third-party payers. Individuals do not feel that they're paying for their own healthcare, so they take what is handed to them, no matter how begrudgingly. If the system were to revert to a simple fee-for-service scheme, such that people would be paying out of their own pockets, things would change. Let's get rid of stupid health benefits paid by employers, and have them pay their employees real money instead, so that employees can make their own decisions as to how to spend those dollars. We're a long way from getting back to basics, but it pisses me off that we ain't even tryin'. Yeah, I saw it, Pres…er, I mean Doug… I liked the babe with the do-rag. But I don’t think that the issues are as simple as would be suggested by that movie. Sure, some docs lack humility, bedside manner, and empathy with patients who must endure dehumanizing treatment at the behest of their staffs, but it goes beyond that into our stupid system of expectations and third-party payers. Individuals do not feel that they’re paying for their own healthcare, so they take what is handed to them, no matter how begrudgingly. If the system were to revert to a simple fee-for-service scheme, such that people would be paying out of their own pockets, things would change. Let’s get rid of stupid health benefits paid by employers, and have them pay their employees real money instead, so that employees can make their own decisions as to how to spend those dollars. We’re a long way from getting back to basics, but it pisses me off that we ain’t even tryin’.

]]> http://www.nittanyturkey.com/archives/2006/05/31/138/comment-page-1/#comment-3202 preston douglas Thu, 01 Jun 2006 18:54:41 +0000 http://www.mrbig.com/tnt/archives/2006/05/31/138/#comment-3202 Have you ever seen the William Hurt drama, The Doctor? Hurt's character, a physician, must endure the cold absurdities of his chosen profession as a patient when he is diagnosed with throat cancer. If only all doctors could be so enlightened (without having cancer, of course). Have you ever seen the William Hurt drama, The Doctor? Hurt’s character, a physician, must endure the cold absurdities of his chosen profession as a patient when he is diagnosed with throat cancer. If only all doctors could be so enlightened (without having cancer, of course).

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