In America????

[Catty1]

It's not even so much the money...overloaded doctors are burning out. And nurses too.

I wish I could wave a magic wand and have everyone do as much preventive care as possible - lifetsyle changes, etc.

I know it wouldn't help the whole thing...but I do wonder how much of the space in long lineups is caused by people who have been eating/smoking/drinking too much, and the health effects of that?

The teeth are a different matter....

It's a tight situation.

[emily_the_spoiled]

As someone who has worked in health policy (as a health care professional, policy maker, and researcher) in both Canada and the US, the end result of the systems are not that much different. The big difference is how they get to the end result. For what ever reason (either long wait lists, no insurance, etc) there is always a segment of the population that will delay their care. The major difference between Canada and the US, is that in Canada you will EVENTUALLY get the care. Unfortunately in the US you will receive the care when you get appropriate insurance, enough cash, or by the time it is too late (as in the case of this little boy).

[wombat2u2004]

As someone who has worked in health policy (as a health care professional, policy maker, and researcher) in both Canada and the US, the end result of the systems are not that much different. The big difference is how they get to the end result. For what ever reason (either long wait lists, no insurance, etc) there is always a segment of the population that will delay their care. The major difference between Canada and the US, is that in Canada you will EVENTUALLY get the care. Unfortunately in the US you will receive the care when you get appropriate insurance, enough cash, or by the time it is too late (as in the case of this little boy).

Exactly...I couldn't agree more !!!!
Wombat

[columbine]

I know it wouldn't help the whole thing...but I do wonder how much of the space in long lineups is caused by people who have been eating/smoking/drinking too much, and the health effects of that?

WAY too much, because junkfood, cigs, and beer are heavily advertised on the cheapest form of entertainment, TV, and all that Madison Avenue glitz has the strongest effect on the least educated minds. So lousy health is a "poverty tax" that we all end up paying with our wallets, and the wage-earners and below pay a far higher rate in a far more precious currency. This is the true cost of free enterprise. Emptor just doesn't caveat, because it's so much more profitable to train him/her not to.

Love, Columbine (who had Fritos for lunch and is currently enjoying a refreshing beverage containing ethanol)

[Edwina's Secretary]

Columbine...WOW! How eloquently you have summed it up....( pass the Fritos! )

[mugsy]

Gee I didn't realize that being poor made you not able to make decisions and should be released from any and all responsibility for yourself. And I wonder why my lower socio-economic students don't perform well....that's IT! They don't have to answer to anyone, including themselves.

[Catty1]

Mugsy - it seems to me that someone posted here that the mom had tried time and time again to get help for her son...and no dentist would take her. As a last resort, at Emerg, they told her to wait while they found a dentist. 4 hours later, she gave up and went home...

Perhaps some of the poorer students in your class are so unmotivated because they or their parents have tried again and again...and after a while got tired of hitting brick walls.

Including "they" generalizations like

They don't have to answer to anyone, including themselves.

.

It's not that simple...I wish it was black-and-white.

I read once about a teacher who started each new year by telling her students that she had given them each an "A", and it was up to them to prove they didn't deserve it.

(PS my mom was an excellent teacher for over 40 years, so I lived first hand with all her days and experiences).

Let's talk about a solution...what would it/they be?

[columbine]

Well, one thing that I hope will help is for city kids to have safe places to play. They get plopped in front of the idiot box all day because if they go out they'll get hit by a car, recruited as a runner by a drug seller, or kidnapped. If they had a decent place to play, maybe they'd be allowed out to run around and climb stuff.

There's actually an organization working on this called KaBOOM that teams up with neighborhood folks to make new or clean up existing playgrounds, ballfields, and skating rinks.

(I'm reminded of an old Rowan & Martin joke: "Americans have forgotten what good clean fun is." "You're right, Dan. What good is it?")

Love, Columbine

[sparks19]

Well, one thing that I hope will help is for city kids to have safe places to play. They get plopped in front of the idiot box all day because if they go out they'll get hit by a car, recruited as a runner by a drug seller, or kidnapped. If they had a decent place to play, maybe they'd be allowed out to run around and climb stuff.

There's actually an organization working on this called KaBOOM that teams up with neighborhood folks to make new or clean up existing playgrounds, ballfields, and skating rinks.

(I'm reminded of an old Rowan & Martin joke: "Americans have forgotten what good clean fun is." "You're right, Dan. What good is it?")

Love, Columbine

OR...... their parents could supervise them. if they are young enough or impulsive enough to be running out in front of vehicles they shouldn't be outside alone anyway.

While cities are starting to lack playgrounds and other such areas.... it is quite simple for a parent to go out with a child and at least take a walk.

And the mother waited for 4 hours and gave up and went home? Not to be passing judgement on the mother but she COULD have waited longer. A 4 hour wait at an emergency room is nothing. If you are not bleeding out you are lucky to see a Dr in emerg in under 8-10 hours... At least that's how it is in the city I am from.

[Catty1]

I would have to reread an earlier post, but I seem to recall that the mom had tried MANY MANY times to get to a dentist and been refused, and that emerg was a last resort.

Someone else raised a good point...why not give the boy antibiotics instead of aspirin?

Columbine - I like the kaBOOM idea! I hope they spread like crazy.

[Ceph]

I was just going to post something from a while back (I just got home after two days without my comp...)

The boy was treated at Children's Hospital....when an Ambulance takes you, you go to the Emergency room, and from theren they refer you to the next place if they see a problem....and most hospitals have dentists and/or dental clinices that I know of....clearly Children's does...and that would have most likley for their area been the hospital the Ambulance would have taken them too.

There are plenty of safe places in DC and PG county and MoCo to play....believe me...I grew up here....I came with my friends and hung around in DC till midnight (usually the mall) as a kid....it was never a problem...totolly safe....while there are some parts of the city that arent...its really easy and safe to jump on the metro or bus to go somewhere else.

oh, also, 4 hours is nothing in those hospitals - Washington Hospital Center, VA Hospital, Children's and NRH are all connected....and they all take in ALOT of people...I have seen people come into the eye clinic at WHC and wait well over that because such a large number of people come in...its what happens when you run low cost / free clinics.

[emily_the_spoiled]

In the Saturday Washington Post there was an article about this little boy. Both the federal and state governments are trying to commit more money for children like Deamonte.

Hopefully he did not die in vain

[Vio&Juni]

In Moldova, a few years ago, after 50-60 years of "free medicine", we introduced the medical insurance. At the moment, we pay 2.5 percent of our total wage (no mater how many hours you work) and the employer pays the same 2.5 percent (used to be 2% last year). I want to mention that this is a tax and you cannot chose not to pay it. Only retired (medical included), jobless and students get it for free - and it should stay so. It is rather difficult and and financially not worth it to register as a jobless person, so, you can also buy the insurance for an amount that is around 100$ per year - a lot in Moldova.

This mandatory insurance gives you the basic medical care and emergency services. I was very sceptical how this would work, but, although there are still a lot of problems with this new system, I think in nature it's fair. I'd rather contribute the two and a half percent of my wage, knowing that the poor people also contribute their share than just simply paying for them too.

[wombat2u2004]

In Moldova, a few years ago, after 50-60 years of "free medicine", we introduced the medical insurance. At the moment, we pay 2.5 percent of our total wage (no mater how many hours you work) and the employer pays the same 2.5 percent (used to be 2% last year). I want to mention that this is a tax and you cannot chose not to pay it. Only retired (medical included), jobless and students get it for free - and it should stay so. It is rather difficult and and financially not worth it to register as a jobless person, so, you can also buy the insurance for an amount that is around 100$ per year - a lot in Moldova.

This mandatory insurance gives you the basic medical care and emergency services. I was very sceptical how this would work, but, although there are still a lot of problems with this new system, I think in nature it's fair. I'd rather contribute the two and a half percent of my wage, knowing that the poor people also contribute their share than just simply paying for them too.

Our system here in Australia is the same, it's called Medicare.....it works fine.
We pay a small percentage in our taxes to, but if you want more higher services, such as private rooms in hospitals etc etc....then you can take out private insurance.....including a Medicare upgrade, but those extra premiums come out of your own pocket.
I think it's a good system, and it certainly works well......I think one of the main advantages of this scheme is that it keeps doctors honest.
Wombat