A few months ago I had to travel to Mexico to visit my mother, and acquired Salmonellosis, from some food I consumed. I began to feel dizzy and got feverish, by the afternoon I was in bed with high fever. A doctor was called and within 35 minutes she arrived (notice the home visit) in a city where traffic is impossible. The doctor was nice, helpful, she explained the symptoms and possible causes, and what the medicine would do with timeframe.
When she left, the bill was $15 USD, and my mom went to the pharmacy to get the medicine. The pharmacy bill was $35 USD, including potent antibiotics, a fever depressant, and pills to replenish the intestinal flora that the antibiotics killed.
Three hours after I get the medicine my I already feel well, and I was completely recovered. The doctor didn't asked for a follow up appointment, and just told us to call her anytime (even at night) to her beeper for any emergency. Now that's what I call REAL attention to the Hippocrates Oath. She wasn't there for the money, just want me to get well, and move on. I wish there was more doctors like her in the US, that would really care for their patients instead of just try to make money out of your misery.
Any comments are very welcome.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Health system is broken in America...
The past month I have been thinking a lot about the health system, on how every day personal interests are over YOUR health, and how the system is been designed to leech out of your sickness.
As a worker and family man, I'm concerned about the weel being of my family, and having lived in other countries, i can see that our health system is designed to get the most money out of the sick.
The common example I give to my friends is when i have back pain. I really feel bad, hurts to walk, sit or just move, and want to go to the doctor to get some poweful medicine. First to get an appointment always takes from two to three weeks, and that's if you don't have to see a primary doctor for a referral first. Then you go to the Doctor's office, wait for at least an hour, and he sees you, gives you little explanation, but measures you, make some tests to justify what he is going to charge.
Then he finally prescribes some medicine. It may sound good because is prescription, right? Most of the ones I have got are "Voltaren" 10 mg or 20mg, very mild if you consider there are 50 & 100 mg versions of the same.
So far I spent two weeks of pain plus $20 of doctor's visit and $15 for the medicine, if i have a $200 per paycheck insurance coverage (my wife, kid and me).
So making numbers I spend monthly $400 IF I don't go to the doctor, or $450 If I get a mild sickness.
As a worker and family man, I'm concerned about the weel being of my family, and having lived in other countries, i can see that our health system is designed to get the most money out of the sick.
The common example I give to my friends is when i have back pain. I really feel bad, hurts to walk, sit or just move, and want to go to the doctor to get some poweful medicine. First to get an appointment always takes from two to three weeks, and that's if you don't have to see a primary doctor for a referral first. Then you go to the Doctor's office, wait for at least an hour, and he sees you, gives you little explanation, but measures you, make some tests to justify what he is going to charge.
Then he finally prescribes some medicine. It may sound good because is prescription, right? Most of the ones I have got are "Voltaren" 10 mg or 20mg, very mild if you consider there are 50 & 100 mg versions of the same.
So far I spent two weeks of pain plus $20 of doctor's visit and $15 for the medicine, if i have a $200 per paycheck insurance coverage (my wife, kid and me).
So making numbers I spend monthly $400 IF I don't go to the doctor, or $450 If I get a mild sickness.
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