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3 minute video summarizes healthcare problem in US.

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  • 3 minute video summarizes healthcare problem in US.

    There has been a lot of discussion on controlling healthcare costs here. WHile humorous, this pretty much typifies my nights working CAT scan.

    Radiology vs ER


    "What is their renal function status? I do not know.
    Do they have IV access? I do not know.
    Are they pregnant? I do not know.

    The patient has. . .abdominal pain."

    That's my night.

  • #2
    Sad but true. Very funny, though.

    Yes, I deal with this mentality on a daily basis, although more often from patients, not doctors.

    Doctor: Hi. What brings you in today?
    Patient: I don't feel well.
    Dr: What's wrong?
    Pt: I'm sick.
    Dr: Can you tell me what symptoms you are having?
    Pt: I'm having pain all over.
    Dr: When did that start?
    Pt: It's been a while.
    Dr: How long? A week? A month? Six months?
    Pt: Yes.

    It goes on an on, day after day. You just have to laugh sometimes.
    Steve

    * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
    * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
    * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

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    • #3
      And do you have enough time to beat your head on a wall?
      "There is some ontological doubt as to whether it may even be possible in principle to nail down these things in the universe we're given to study." --text msg from my kid

      "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." --Frederick Douglass

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      • #4
        That question is for both posters above.
        "There is some ontological doubt as to whether it may even be possible in principle to nail down these things in the universe we're given to study." --text msg from my kid

        "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." --Frederick Douglass

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Joan.of.the.Arch View Post
          And do you have enough time to beat your head on a wall?
          You have no idea.
          Steve

          * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
          * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
          * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

          Comment


          • #6
            That could apply to a whole host of services. The more that's added on the bigger the bill. Very funny though.
            "Those who can't remember the past are condemmed to repeat it".- George Santayana.

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            • #7
              Do I beat my head against the wall? No, the hospital I work at gave one of those new age seminars where we are supposed to treat everyone like they are a customer.

              So I just talk pretty much robotically like the video.

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              • #8
                Ha-ha-ha-ha. My sister swears that her hospital once gave out sand-filled, squeezy toys in place of any raises, and figured they'd done their employees and patients both a favor. They were supposed to be stress relievers.
                "There is some ontological doubt as to whether it may even be possible in principle to nail down these things in the universe we're given to study." --text msg from my kid

                "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." --Frederick Douglass

                Comment


                • #9
                  I used to work in an emergency room and you come upon people like this. As funny can be a new rookie police officer who is badge heavy or thinks he has to do every little thing right sometimes aggravating his superiors. Jusst sometimes doing unnecessary things not called for. I wanted to clarify this because it wasn't meant towards all police officers.
                  Last edited by Aleta; 12-09-2010, 10:14 AM.

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                  • #10
                    This type of mentality can be applied across pretty much any profession. The people in the profession know the terminology and the "ins-and-out" of the job and can get frustrated when John Doe doesn't respond to our questioning the way they should answer. It happens to me too.

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                    • #11
                      This is hysterical!! Im a clinical lab scientist in a hospital lab and I feel like I have a few times a day with our ER staff. THey do the ol' shotgun approach on 95% of the patients they see. They order every test on everyone and figure something will come back abnormal.

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                      • #12
                        That's pretty funny. I lol'ed at the abdominal aneurysm bit. Otherwise I can't relate. I work for a health plan. We're all about keeping costs down.

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                        • #13
                          I honestly only know 1 ER doctor like that. . .I think he orders CAT scans because he is hoping that the test will tell him the answer to the problem. Just send it off to Nighthawk and maybe they'll give him the answer.

                          With respect to the other 20-30 ER docs, I really don't get that feeling. I am postive they know what they are doing so it's not that. In fact, about 2 or 3, I have come to respect, when they order, it's needed. Case closed. They have done a history and exam and the test is needed. The other 15-20. . .I am having these conversations by proxy with the nurses.

                          I am honestly not sure why they are ordering CAT scans. Defensive medicine, revenue generation, patient pressure. . .probably a combo. Greater people than me have all had these discussions.

                          It's just that the conversations are dysfunctional. When I pick up the phone, I honestly WANT to help them. Well, that and they are calling me all night wondering when I am going to get to Mary Smith in Room 4. Every phone call slows me down by about 1 minute.

                          The test ordering has been bad lately. . .I guess revenue is down and ER docs are getting pressured. . .not sure why really. There's always a level of unnecessary testing. . .that's just healthcare. . .but I have noticed it's just been extra bad lately, at least in radiolog. The hospital CEO keeps circulating around memo's about Obamacare. . .don't buy it. . .everything that's wrong in healthcare is not Obama's fault. That's why they didn't give bonuses this year - Obama. C'mon.

                          I will say EMR is helping a bit. . .I can log on and see if all the preliminary stuff has been done.

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Scanner View Post
                            The hospital CEO keeps circulating around memo's about Obamacare. . .don't buy it. . .everything that's wrong in healthcare is not Obama's fault. That's why they didn't give bonuses this year - Obama. C'mon.

                            I will say EMR is helping a bit. . .I can log on and see if all the preliminary stuff has been done.
                            Your CEO is just giving the business to the gullible masses. 90% of the changes to healthcare initiated by the healthcare plan haven't even began so how can he attribute the lack of bonuses to Mr. Obama

                            As for EMR, if it is set up properly it should eliminate a lot of the headaches as in the example from the video, it could prompt the docs to enter last creatinine and date of last LMP (for a female with abdominal pain) when ordering just as one example.

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                            • #15
                              Yeah, EMR has been helping. I can kind of watch their butts (and that's okay - they watch mine too) to see everything is copasetic before injecting them and stuff.

                              The gov't was right to push industry to make this conversion.

                              You are right though - right now, it's just a documentation system. In the future though, the computer could shut the Ordering down, and need a special override before even ordering.

                              That is. . .a creatine and a BUN and a GFR value would have to be there and within normal limits, a neg. preg. test, and so on. . .then, the computer could activate the clearance for a CAT scan. The doc/nurse would have to input a reason for "override" like: "Major Trauma" or "Getting dialysis tommorrow" if something is askew. An iodine allergy (yeah, in this day and age, I would still say that's the most common thing I catch - you can't give a CT with contrast if they are allergic to iodine) should immediately shut down the ordering system.

                              Computers are our friends.

                              It's amazing we still have human's patrolling and safeguarding allergic rxn's in the hospital. More sad than amazing.

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