OR… Here we go again!
I would hope, think, that after a few hundred years in business and taking trillions of dollars out of our pockets that the medical profession would have its collective shit together, but every day they disprove that thought. This last transition from the sublime to the ludicrous, lowered my expectations to Bend Over, Here It Comes Again (BOHICA).
My theory: I am / we are, nothing more than a source of revenue, in every aspect of life. I am the next payment on that condo in Cabo, or the payment on that Porsche; maybe trophy-wife #3’s new tits. but my care is NOT the primary consideration. I am nothing more than an incidental and contemporaneous annoyance and involuntary participant.
I am nothing more than a unit in need of service and crucial to their cash-flow. Their lack of attention to detail and the assembly-line approach to healthcare is the result of trading the goals of heath service for that of the almighty dollar.
Maybe going forward, I’ll refer to doctors’ as ‘Medical Mechanics‘.
I’m inconvenienced again.
Simon Med hires ‘front-office people’, schedulers with token reading or comprehension skills; now I’m inconvenienced AGAIN!
The MRI order from my doctor ‘specifically’ required “METAL BLOCKING” because my new shoulder is titanium – which, by the way, is a type of metal. Then there are the other stainless-steel wires holding my heart together, and my two titanium knees.
Call me Tin Man-Oil-Can.
This is about problems with a total replacement of my right shoulder in April of 2024. I’m having problems with the shoulder slipping out or its socket; three times so far.
Several visits to the Orthopedic surgeon and regular physical-therapy appointments indicate that there may be one of two problems.
1. The tendons or ligaments that maintain the stability of the new shoulder may be damaged
2. The socket that stabilizes the shoulder joint may not be properly sized for my level of activity.
Either way more surgery may be required.
During my last visit to my Physician’s office, he recommended another MRI at a facility that can perform the radiography – as soon as possible.
MRI is the abbreviation for Magnet Resonance Imaging. It uses radio waves and highly focused magnetic fields to create images of selected tissues, bones, or organs without exploratory surgery, or continual exposure to the radiation from X Ray machines.
MRIs employ powerful magnets which produce a strong magnetic field that forces protons in the body to align with that field. When a radiofrequency current is then pulsed through the patient, the protons are stimulated, and spin out of equilibrium, straining against the pull of the magnetic field to create images of the inside of the body:
* Create a magnetic field: A large, tube-shaped MRI machine creates a powerful magnetic field around the patient.
* Align atoms: The magnetic field causes atoms in the body to align with the field.
* Send radio waves: The MRI machine sends radio waves that disrupt the alignment of the atoms.
* Detect signals: When the radio waves stop, the atoms return to their original position and emit signals.
* Convert signals to images: A computer receives the signals and converts them into images.
I know. way too much information (WTMI).
– I love acronyms.
I will either glow in the dark, or start receiving messages from outer space.
Maybe I can get a job at SETI – Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.
CAUTION:
“You can’t have metal in your body for an MRI because the strong magnetic field used in the scan can cause the metal to move, heat up, or even dislodge, potentially causing serious injury to surrounding tissues; this is especially concerning for implants near sensitive areas like the brain or eyes, and can also distort the MRI image making it difficult to interpret.”
Not to mention, extremely dangerous for the payer… – Uh – I mean patient.
This creates an interesting dilemma for folks like me that have lots of metal replacement parts where natural ones once lived. SO. the amazing scientists and engineers that designed these marvelous machines created one that does ‘metal masking’ so folks like me don’t burst into flames, cook like a chicken in the microwave, of bleed to death from the flying metal part in our bodies. Just kidding, it’s not that bad, but the distortion to the imaging is quite serious. It can render the radiograph unusable.
For those of you not familiar with the pleasure of being inserted in a large metallic cylinder for an extended period of time, usually about 45 minutes, subjected to deafening humming and clunking, in an open-back hospital gown, laying on a hard, cold surface for 30 minutes. You really should try it. I do believe the Marquis de Sade consulted on the design.
If your claustrophobic like me, the options are to deal with it, or for an extra charge they will sedate you, partially; BUT. Be aware, this requires that you inconvenience someone else, because you will require a driver after the procedure, and 4 to 6 additional hours of recovery time. Basically, you’ve pissed away an entire day, and probable alienated your friend or spouse with this aggravation and annoyance. But there’s always Uber. for an extra charge, of course.
I really should mention that you must “REMAIN ABSOLUTELY MOTIONLESS – STILL!” Any movement at all requires a reset and reimaging. It REALLY upsets the technician, and time is money! Isn’t it.
There are now ‘Open MRI’ machines that do not completely enclose the subject – it’s like a clam-shell; the sides are open allowing some relief from the steel-cylinder, eliminating the cigar-tube feeling. They are as RARE as chicken lips, and usually booked-up for at least two weeks in advance. So. if you need the MRI immediately, your choices are limited.
Enjoy your nap, and hope you have a really good and understanding spouse or friend with no planes for half a day.
There are some necessary cautions:
o No metal in your body
o No piercings, implants, stints, shunts, pacemakers, or any other mechanical device intended to keep you alive.
o Read the included warning material carefully – very carefully, because when you sign the consent form, you absolve the imagining company of ANY liability for YOUR errors. You might read this last point again.
Thursday: Nov 21st.
Obtaining an immediate appointment was an exercise that tried my patience from every possible perspective: let me recount the ways.
– The ‘Auto Attendant – dial 1 for. oh but the menu has changed so now you dial. you know this by heart, right.
– 20 minutes on hold waiting for the next agent, who by the way, is barely conversant in English. I did press 1 for English, didn’t I?
– Give the intimate details to validate that I know who I am, to a person that can barely say ‘Jes. or. Who is deees is?’ Could ju toll me who ju is again. Oh, no dats de wrong one. Are ju shooor whoo you is? Oh. I has di wrong file, jes a minit.. Did you was eber here beeeefor?
– 15 minutes of attempting to understand the doctor orders now that they know who you are.
– Then being transferred to another agent and reverifying who ju is – AGAIN. and another 10-minute wait for this person to comprehend the order and validate that the closest office can perform the exam and has the necessary eeeeequeeepment, and finding an appointment sometime in the next 90 days.
– Ok the appointment is set. Oh no. Wait. they can’t do that there. Let me look for somewhere else.. I found a location in Los Angles.. Oh, that’s right, you live in Phoenix. Is Peoria in Phoenix?
– OK. I have something in January.
– Oh, dee order says urgent!
– Wait a minute.
– OK. I have something thing on Saturday at 9:30 a few miles from where juleeeebe.
I took the appointment.
I received 5 text messages confirming the date, time, and location of the MRI. Two additional texts, one changing the time of the MRI, and one confirming the appointment time had changes, and another requiring me to acknowledge that I knew the time had changes – by pressing “Y” for yes, or “N” for no.
I received a call from the Nursing Supervisor late Friday afternoon telling me that the scheduled location cannot perform the MRI, because it does not have the necessary equipment. SO would I mind going to another location 28 miles from where I live, or I could wait until January for an appointment 18 miles from my house.
I took the earlier appointment 28 miles from home for Monday at 9:30.
I receive a call this morning, Monday, telling me that the appointment time was changed to later this afternoon at 1:30 pm because of scheduling conflicts. Oh Joy, a 56-mile round-trip in pre-holiday and rush-hour traffic.
I arrived at the appointed time, checked in and waited patiently for the procedure to begin. I was told that the tech was backed up at least another hour, so I could continue to wait, or reschedule.
You’d have been proud of me. I didn’t fly of the handle or make useless threats, I did announce in a stern and moderately loud voice, that this is the last time I will use Simon Med.
Message Delivered.
WTFO???
I want to apologize for the wordy preamble for this article; our tour through the weeds and around the bush – We’ve finally gotten to the point of this post.
A patient is nothing more than a resource for the Business of Medicine. We provide the funds that advocate for, and subsidize the medical business. Unfortunately, we have no recourse or opportunity to negotiate rates for their services. This is by design, not happenstance. This arrangement allows the Medical Business Managers to control every facet of this marvel of business organization and administration.
This resemble a monopoly, doesn’t it.
We, the users, have no say regarding the prices, set by a consortium of like practices, managed by agreement with the owners, who set the rates based on government acceptance and agreement. AND. the government manages healthcare for the republic using our tax dollars. What???
Now my point…
We are victims of a system that sees us as incidental, uninformed, but a necessary part of their cash-flow. They must tolerate us, because we provide their livelihood. We give them money through the healthcare system – medical insurance, Copay’s, and Medicare/Medicaid – our darling government. We pay the Medical Industrial Complex to take our money and to provide substandard service in the process, all because they are the only sanctioned / authorized game in town.
Does your medical insurance or healthcare provider pay for alternative medical procedures.
Do you even know?
There are several alternative medical treatments that have been around for thousands of years. Things like herbal remedies Chinese or Oriental medicine, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, chiropractic, homeopathy, naturopathy, the list continues from here. Are these covered by your insurance, or by Medicare/Medicaid?
I seriously doubt it. possibly a few more liberal insurance providers cover a few, but the more conservative providers insist on directing you through their choice mainstream medical mechanics and their well-oiled medical businesses.
They’re recognized and backed by several thousand years of practice, and a few of the use all natural products from Mother Earth. Here’s the Wikipedia link for your enjoyment and edification. [LINK]
The Monopoly
Insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid, negotiate with the hospitals, clinics, and medical mechanics to set the prices to cover every possible medical scenario. These prices become the set – acceptable reimbursement price for the procedures. Anything outside that is the payers – your – additional cost.
When you need services, you need permission from the Insurance Company to have that service performed. If you do not have their permission, and do it anyway, you pay whatever the medical mechanic decides to charge you. If anyone in the service chain makes any mistakes, it is the responsibility of the payer – you, to find the error and correct it.
If everyone collaborates on the prices for services, and accepts those prices as standard, and charges the payer the difference between the acceptable price and the actual price charged. this constitutes a monopoly.
Since the beginning of the 2021 invasion, healthcare costs for these indigents has been born by the lucky citizens in the dumping location. It then falls to the hospitals, Medicare, Medicaid, and other Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) to cover these costs. Since the hospitals and several other service providers must accept anyone requesting/needing service, the costs are borne by the service provider.
Why does it take several months to obtain an appointment?
Ask the 25 million new illegal patients in the system. And why are hospital costs skyrocketing, and profits in the toilet?
Ask the 25 million new illegal patients in the system.
Healthcare in this county is the largest scam in history.
We pay exorbitant insurance premiums for truly inexcusable services, run by corporations whose goal is profit, not health or exceptional service.
If you want to know the real end game. look at the advancements in cancer cures, diabetes, mental health, geriatric care, AIDS – and STDs. There are none, because selling you maintenance medications is significantly more profitable than curing the disease. And since profit drives this business, don’t expect to see any major medical advancement in the foreseeable future, if ever.
The top three healthcare systems in the world are:
1. Singapore
2. Japan
3. South Korea
USA ranked last. but we spent the most.
It’s all about the money, honey.
And. Guess who pay for all of this???
I shouldn’t need to tell you. Simply look at our current financial situation, the $36T national debt, and our $222T Unfunded Liabilities – these are the debt obligations not covered by assets or income. Things like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Federal Pensions, etc. All mismanaged by our government, who believe that they can just print more money and that they’ll give away to Ukraine, and other countries to support the Military Industrial Congressional Complex, foreign aid to our enemies, and etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
Personal savings are less than $10k, and the personal debt exceeds $76K, and median income is $60k.
The USA pays more for healthcare that any other country, and our healthcare system is the worst in the world. {Read this line again!} – from an AI overview of internet information.
Time to wake up and smell the falafel and mint tea.
Because, Our priorities are TARFU! Totally and Royally “F’d” UP
November 28, 2024
~ The Author ~
Charles R. Dickens was born in 1951, is a veteran of the Vietnam war, for which he volunteered, and the great-great grandson of the noted author, whose name he shares.
He is a fiercely proud American, who still believes this is the greatest country on the planet, with which we’ve lost control and certainly our direction. He grew up in moderate financial surrounding; we’re not rich by any stretch, but didn’t go hungry – his incredibly hard working father saw to that. As most from that era, he learned about life from his father, whose story would take too long to tell, other than to say that, he is also a fiercely proud American; a WWII and Korean war, veteran Marine.
Charlie was educated in the parochial system which, demanded that you actually learn something, and have capability to retain it before you advance. He attended several universities in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree, and chased the goose further to a master’s, and has retained some very definite ideas about education in this country.
In addition, Charlie is a retired blues guitar and vocalist – a musician. This was his therapy career. Nothing brings him as much joy as playing music, and he wishes that he could make a living at it… but alas… life goes on!