The Strategic Importance of US Based Medical Care

Posted on 2 February 2009 in Uncategorized by admin

An interesting case in point regarding the concerns of the trending towards “Socialized Medicine” in America.   One of the major points of medicine in the United States it that it is still profit driven to a great degree.  This is true , however on the other hand there is feedback in the system leading to better care.  If I do not like the level of care – many patients can reason – I can go to another doctor / hospital / care provider.  The system is rewarded or punished for good or poor service levels or good or poor value.  There is a feedback system in check. Poor performers or poor providers are punished.

It is true that many patients who are in dire straights are not  given a choice.  They are deathly ill or without other access and must take what they are given.

In spite of its apparent costs the beauty of the American system is that is available.  Costs are what they are , however when oil sheiks need treatment – and money is no object – where do they run – its to the US.  Its not even to “private British hospitals ” nowadays.

Hence the American medical system remains an escape valve .  If a patient in dire straights in behind the ques in a country with socialized or limited medical care he or she can always go to the States for treatment.  Money has limited value if you are dead or in no shape to enjoy its mettle.

The interesting thing is that although Canada is held up as a model of available medical care with a socialized medical care system that when major political figures – not even the wealthy , have serious illness , its to the US that they run in a snap.  This is so widely reported and so common , Canadians ( who may well be in a treatment ques for an extended period for serious or debilitating medical illness )  do not even bat an eye towards this and question it.  Nothing much that can be done when it comes to the slowness of the medical system and all its bureaucracies .

Thus in spite of its failing , high costs etc the value of the American medical system , among other paradoxes is that it remains a good safety valve – available always when needed and in addition providing pressure as a good example in point to other less available or efficient medical systems of the world.

TheSpec.com – Local – Hotline will find you family doctor – A doctor shortage exists partly because in past years there were not enough students taken into medical schools to make up for those who were retiring. Also, Ontario’s population has grown, among other factors. …

HealthZone.ca – News & Features – New hotline to find MDs – A doctor runs through the medical history of a new patient on her first time visit to a health clinic in Toronto. Studies indicate that nearly one in every 13 Ontario residents does not have a regular family physician. … Natalie Mehra, director of the health-care advocacy group, the Ontario Health Coalition, said the doctor shortage is a “big problem” all over the province, particularly in Kingston, Windsor, Sarnia, Brockville and northern Ontario. …

Doctor Shortage? – We all know there is a doctor shortage in the US. There aren’t enough doctors to care for the patients. Especially, primary/family doctors. The bottleneck is said to be in the number of available residencies and rotations. …

Hospitalists,nocturnalists,admitologists,anyone rember personal … – A recent perceptive,poignant, essay has attracted the attention of two of my favorite medical bloggers. Dr. RW and DB have both blogged about this entry by Dr. Cherie Glazner. At least the patient described in the narrative saw a …

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Medical Treatment Costs – A Relative View

Posted on 14 September 2008 in Uncategorized by admin

 

                    To many overseas , or even in Canada , the concept of not being provided with medical care – uninsured or not insured , or not being able to afford medical care may sound unlikely or even preposterous.   Yet it is the sad fact for many in the United States.  On top of that health care costs themselves in the U.S. compared to other places are relatively much higher.   This is said to be the result of many causes – not one in themeselves.    It costs money to run a business – especially in the states.  Doctors not only have to be paid relatively large pay scales compared to the U.K., Europe and Canada and yet their costs are not small .   Doctors have to pay substantial costs for health care insurance due to the plague or almost an industry of lawsuits against them.  It is said that having 2 lawyers in a town increases the total costs of legal services and  total services used immensely .  Imagine a whole industry based on seeking lawsuits against medical practitioners.  Its defensive medical system at its finest.  On top of that add other costs – costs of modern equipment , running a hospital often with unionized staff .  On more point is the cost of administration – both in the medical insurance plans and companies for administration and non payment and collection of bills to doctors.

                    What is interesting is that even though patients and health care consumers in other countries with socialized or public health care believe all in all that their healthcare is “free”  even though they may be subsidizing it greatly with tax dollars either specifically collected for that purpose or from general tax accounts – from say gasoline taxes or income taxes.

                  Even though these citizens may be astounded that someone in America will gladly pay for medical treatment in their countries the actual consumer may see it as a tremendous bargain and value when all costs are counted up.   Its similar to a Canadian citizen making a special trip to farwaway Texas or Florida to purchase a automobile to bring it back to Canada.  Even though the car may be manufactured in Canada under free trade Nafta rules when it is all said and done they may be greatly ahead in the bargain – even when including travel as well as other costs.  To boot they even get a sort of vacation away from home during the cold Canadian winter.   The Canadian car industry may not like it , however you cannot  “have your cake and it too”.  If these local north american industries wish to benefit from the economies of scale that a free larger market provides for , they cannot pick and choose what rules and procedures they wish to follow and which they don’t.  The only people in the equation who may be perplexed may well be the customs officers at the Canadian border who when finding that even when the rules are followed , they cannot stop the process.  It is all perfectly legal and proper.  If the customs agent was not suave enough to use those same rules – and even contacts to obtain a similar bargain that is their issue and not one of the thorough and determined modern consumer.

<p><a href=’http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/nip-and-tuck-solutions-take-price-medical-tourism-down-under’>Nip and Tuck Solutions take the price of Medical Tourism Down …</a> – This is the age of affordable international travel and with it has come the rise of medical tourism and healthcare. Nip and Tuck Solutions Australia has seen a dramatic increase in demand for Medical tourism services for Australian …</p>
<p><a href=’http://www.groundreport.com/article.php?articleID=2872902&offset=2′>GroundReport | Malaysia | Medical Tourism an extra advantage to …</a> – As healthcare becomes increasingly expensive, savvy patients are now looking to Medical Tourism as a cost-effective alternative to receiving medical treatment and Malaysia stands out to be the best option available. …</p>
<p><a href=’http://malaysiahotelnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/medical-tourism-feeling-slight-pain.html’>Malaysia Hotel News: Medical tourism feeling slight pain from turmoil</a> – Mahkota Medical Centre Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Francis Lim was of the view that Malacca could gain from the slowdown. “We may benefit as we still have price advantage over Singapore … unless Singapore adjusts their prices …</p>
<p><a href=’http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-danger-of-medical-tourism.html’>The Danger of Medical Tourism!</a> – What can appear to be an attractive and relatively cheap prospect for those considering some form of plastic surgery, can often turn into an expensive nightmare. The perils of medical tourism. The Danger of Medical Tourism!.</p>
<p><a href=’http://medicalnewstodayblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/wellpoint-pilot-program-will-provide.html’>Medical News Today: WellPoint Pilot Program Will Provide Coverage …</a> – “It allows the customers to have choice,” Hashmi said, adding, “Certainly the cost difference is striking enough for some procedures.” According to the Star, the proliferation of medical tourism programs like WellPoint’s could “create …</p>
<p><a href=’http://indolac.wordpress.com/2008/11/25/medical-tourism-to-india-all-expenses-paid/’>Medical Tourism to India, All Expenses Paid</a> – In January, Serigraph Inc., a West Bend, Wis., manufacturer, will become the first US company of any size to embrace medical travel or medical tourism, offering employees the option of having certain nonemergency operations, …</p>

 

 

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