Dropping just a few lines hopefully not flat lines for some Americans. Editorial kinda
How many people died today because they couldn't afford to buy their medicine and had to purchase food instead. How many marines shot themselves because their doctor had too many clients. See: Suicide in the Armed Forces Washington Post. For some stats. Doctors are human and may not be able to do their job in without a good team of nurses behind them. Isn't there a shortage of nurses in some areas of the US? How does one diagnose PTSD in 15 minutes? I'm not wasting time placing blame on the doctors. And I have no idea how to answer the previous question. I wanted the question to be rhetorical. Anyway, I'm actually trying to put a human face on the medical industry. I have two retired nurses family. One deceased. Even though they worked in a system that is vastly different from this modern day medical industry. The buck always stops with the doctor. Good doctors are not a dime a dozen.
So where are the answers?
If health care is not paid for doctors will retire early. They will opt out of the system. We will have a shortage of smart people becoming doctors. Meaning the best of the best will not become doctors. Blackberries, computer chips loaded with personal medical information, firewalls that protect that said information. Computers for every doctor that can strap to their hip. Plenty of Velcro.. but that's my dream anyway.
President Obama said in his address that he "wanted to cut waste out the the system" Where will the cuts take place? The learning curve for bringing some health care IT systems up to par will be steep. Training will cost money. Where do we cut? Who pays for what?
Should people who have more pay more? I really don't think so. That option should not mandatory at least. After Katrina the whole country chipped in. My home state of Mississippi handled their funds well and many people rebuilt their homes. So educate and show how important health care is to Americans who choose between food and care. And maybe we can rebuild the health care information technology system.
Doctors hold a special position in our society, some even worship them. I don't go that far but with much power there is much responsibility. I'm quoting Spiderman the fairly recent movie 2002. Doctors are not gods but they do have to think on their feet, work under extreme pressure and without hesitation. How long can the brain go without oxygen? I don't know, but not for long.
So my hope is that local doctors in my area get the technology that they need with the training for new interns. And that the bill gets paid. Live long and prosper.
