Here's a pisser!
- Thread starter chcr
- Start date
Inkara1
Well-Known Member
Hospitals in the US are businesses. Most are for profit, although you'll sometimes find nonprofit ones. They have bottom lines to think about, and think about them they do.
How's this for messed up: The four hospitals in the Fresno area (not counting the Kaiser Permanente hospital, which is for Kaiser subscribers) routinely turn ambulances away, sending them on to the next hospital. Meanwhile, Community Medical Center-Fresno, the largest of the hospitals, only has something like two-thirds of the beds in the building available for use, because it would cost too much to keep all 600-something beds ready at all times. The number of beds they have mothballed is more than Community Medical Center-Clovis owns. Plus, Community (who owns those two hospitals and University Medical Center, which has the level 1 trauma unit and burn unit) is going to merge Fresno Community and University into one big-ass hospital on Community's property... but the combined capacity will be several hundred beds less than the two separate hospitals have now.
How's this for messed up: The four hospitals in the Fresno area (not counting the Kaiser Permanente hospital, which is for Kaiser subscribers) routinely turn ambulances away, sending them on to the next hospital. Meanwhile, Community Medical Center-Fresno, the largest of the hospitals, only has something like two-thirds of the beds in the building available for use, because it would cost too much to keep all 600-something beds ready at all times. The number of beds they have mothballed is more than Community Medical Center-Clovis owns. Plus, Community (who owns those two hospitals and University Medical Center, which has the level 1 trauma unit and burn unit) is going to merge Fresno Community and University into one big-ass hospital on Community's property... but the combined capacity will be several hundred beds less than the two separate hospitals have now.
chcr
Too cute for words
Inkara1 said:
metoo!ris said:
However, if you even suggest some sort of federalization of the health care system, people scream you're communist or worse. I feel that this is because the drug companies pay for ad after ad showing how bad the health care systems in Canada and England are. I think that they charge us much higher prices than they charge in other countries, and they're afraid their obscene profit margins will go down.
My only question; Can everyone who wants it get health care in Canada and England?
This thread will now degenerate into chest thumping and name calling, be prepared.
chcr said:
in Canada, yes, anyone. At no additional cost...it's paid for by the province, obviously through funds garnered through taxation. And I'm very proud and grateful for that.
Non-citizens of course pay, but there is insurance/whatnot i.e. Blue Cross, that they can use here...I've never heard of a hospital not accepting that...but the hospital must accept everyone and treat them to it's fullest ability regardless of finances and arrange repayment later.
chcr
Too cute for words
Hospitals throughout The U.S. routinely threaten to drop one insurance company or another in order to get more money out of them. The Insurance companies in turn don't want to give up their money, so they negotiate a new level of theivery. Negotiations broke down in this case.freako104 said:
You misunderstood, freako. I haven't had a claim or gone to the hospital. My insurance company notified me yesterday (along with everyone else in this particular heathcare network, I assume) that the local hospital was no longer an approved provider. Note that the county employees are in the same network, and it's the only hospital in the county. Note also that the local hospital's management was recently passed over to the largest catholic church affiliated hospital corpporation in the state. Hmmm.....freako104 said:
ris
New Member
in the uk most anyone can get healthcare, the quality of it is the question though i suppose. some places are highly oversubscribed and it can take several weeks to see a doctor if you really need to.
hospital waiting lists for non-emergency and even some emergency care are subject to waiting lists which usually are months if not years.
but if a ambluance comes to pick you up then tehy take you to the hospital and they fix you up - very little passing on unless beds are full.
i should add that the insurance network for healthcare here is in its infancy and as a result there are few providers. but if you are private then the speed of care is much better [i wouldn't say quality because i believe the nhs is of a great standard medically - most of the pricate practitioners still work for the nhs too]. the best bit is the cost of healthcare here - its really low because if it cost a bundle no-one would bother.
i may well take private health insurance, if only for that little piece of mind if something serious happened and there was a waiting list. i've taken private dental care and that's well priced.
hospital waiting lists for non-emergency and even some emergency care are subject to waiting lists which usually are months if not years.
but if a ambluance comes to pick you up then tehy take you to the hospital and they fix you up - very little passing on unless beds are full.
i should add that the insurance network for healthcare here is in its infancy and as a result there are few providers. but if you are private then the speed of care is much better [i wouldn't say quality because i believe the nhs is of a great standard medically - most of the pricate practitioners still work for the nhs too]. the best bit is the cost of healthcare here - its really low because if it cost a bundle no-one would bother.
i may well take private health insurance, if only for that little piece of mind if something serious happened and there was a waiting list. i've taken private dental care and that's well priced.
chcr
Too cute for words
Thanks ris, I didn't understand that. I knew you could pay in the UK and get preferential treatment, I didn't know you had private insurance as well. That's really a good idea, I think. Basic health care available to everyone, insurance if you want a better level. I've also thought about the idea of treating it like a utility, but I don't think that would work either.
