That would be the WHOLE point of a FORUM. To allow, through argumentation, the dissemination of information from the "learned expert" to the poor, unwashed minds of the masses. I feel so blessed when I can feel the warm sunlight of knowledge emanating from our own "learned experts" - and caressing my brain cells and adding new meaning to my life! I feel so blessed!

And in SOME (?) cases the Google search would lead to better medical advice. Many Family-type Physicians are time-limited to the extent their one-year or 6-month appointment does NOT adequately meet a patient's needs for information. So a thoughtful patient needs to use Google to research their own medical issues so that they can BETTER communicate with medical professionals. Our recent Pandemic showed the need to relate remotely using various media. Also, Google is up to date and many medical professionals are not.

Sure use the rare exception to make your argument... :ohdear:

and the result is:

Cute ! And in the background is a gravestone of a man that died earlier than he needed to after getting advice from his older family Doctor who said, "you won't need any additional tests". (because you have a medicare C, medicare advantage plan and they won't pay for additional tests - they wait for you to die).

Yeah, right---that's how it happens. If you think you can google something and match the expertise of a physician, you are simply delusional. Actually, let me make that 95% of physicians, there is always a quack out there.

The vast majority of physicians care.

This thread needs a DNR.

I will take exception to calling that an EXCEPTION. For years I was under for-profit healthcare. And for those years where ever I lived, Denver, Phoenix, etc, etc. There was a common thread, doctors that had to maximize the number of patients seen per day just to keep up with the bills in private practice. So common a problem that many of those doctors gave up and joined healthcare groups where they were basically employees. Then when I went in to the "doctors office" I would see which ever doctor was on rotation. I would see that doctor for precisely 15 minutes, no more no less. Because they had quotas. And those doctors typical had NO idea who I was or what my medical history was, because they had never seen me before. And while they spent maybe 10 of those 15 minutes reading my chart to see what the other doctors said, they would ask ME questions to help them understand what the other doctors meant. They almost without exception, they would ask me what I would like to do or have done.

Now that I am in the VA its is totally the opposite. Had my annual today, and the doctor chat with me, know me, discussed my history and how I was doing. Made suggestions on changes and all in all gave me a very safe feeling.

Every single person I know that is in the for profit healthcare system has had exactly the same experience as me. And in addition to that, statistic seems to support the idea, since the US has worse healthcare outcomes that almost any other first world country.

I completely agree with you. EVERY doctor I have interacted with over the past 70 years were all concerned. The all cared. Yup. BUT. many (most?) are living private practice and those that end up in groups like Shands, are basically beaten into submission. They still care, but they also have to meet quotas.

I don't think that is what he meant, I think he meant doctors are forced into curing out numbers. They care, they are experts, but they don't have the time to delve into every patients case. I completely support doctors, everyone I know is a good decent caring care giver. I feel sorry for the position they find themselves in.

Companies need to stay out of politics
 

Wake up and deal with reality.

I don't know what magical VA you went to, but every single patient I've ever seen, who's come from the VA had a completely opposite experience. NO ONE knew who they were, appointments were as rare as hen's teeth...

Asking for a friend why do hens not have teeth?

Do think this whole thread has been discussed to death and beyond

Because the Dentist was across the road...

Agreed...

That is correct. A google search is not equivalent to advice from a medical professional. But, a person's computer is available 24 / 7 for medical advice and their individual Physician may NOT be - they might be on the golf course when a patient FEELS a need for information. Physicians are overworked and often must decrease the time allotted for each patient visit. They have hospital rounds and etc. They have the US "insurance system and lobby" leading them around by rings in their noses! Doctors in the 1950s had things different than they do today. Today they are NOT like individual and INDEPENDANT small business entrepreneurs. They are merely COGS in a large corporate wheel - "step out of line and the man comes and kicks you in ..........the knee"
......Young people that are internet savvy want to have medical knowledge and all other knowledge that is waiting there with a few clicks on the "Google Machine". Knowledge IS more universal and important to the average person today than it was in the 1950s!

True, I agree.

Exactly what I have been saying for years. Look at the order of the list of world countries and you will see America in a different light - healthcare (like what was said) is just one big example of how far America has dropped since being in the top 10 after WW2. We have been poisoned in our thinking by insurance companies that use lobbyists to frame US opinion AGAINST National Health Care - they talk like Universal Health Care is a "commie" plot. Yet, it works fine in Canada (and all other civilized countries). Last I heard Canada was a free and non-Communist country.

The VA is a wonderful organization that has many dedicated medical staff members. They suffer ONLY from BUDGET restraints. Many Veterans are told, "go die for your country and we will take care of your medical and other needs". The Veterans do their part, but then the VA staff, who want to give back to the Veterans, are hamstrung by BUDGET cut-backs!
.........The VA for the most part IS well-liked by Veterans - the VA hospital system is VERY efficient (best interconnected medical software available) because it is the closest thing in the US to a Universal Healthcare System.
........many smart individuals would like to see the VA as a good model for ALL US healthcare. The current HELTER SKELTER insurance based system of "may I" please get care and "please don't deny me" is a big JOKE!

Talk to a few Canadians about their health care.

It might be free but you can wait for months for basic test and procedures. Quite a few Canadians come here for their medical needs. Not so simple

Those to who wish to may simply walk away because when you click on to a thread, there are no handcuffs that push out from the keyboard to imprison someone into remaining on a thread. Freedom of thread speech AKA threech!

Every Canadian that I ever talked to RAVED about their healthcare. And they consider the US system so BAD that they hate to have to ever use it. They go so far as to take out special insurance to protect themselves while they are in the US.

All I can say is we seem to have talked to different Canadians.

You might want to ask one how long from the time they are told they need a new hip for example to the surgery. That answer may open your eyes.

Or any other type of expensive surgery for that matter.

Wrong on just about every level...

Why VA's electronic health record mega-project is failing - FCW

• Reasons veterans and active service do not use VA health services U.S. 2021 | Statista

Reports highlight failures of the VA’s health system during the pandemic | PBS NewsHour

VA watchdog details 'devastating, tragic and deadly' failures that allowed impaired pathologist to misdiagnose thousands | Fierce Healthcare

I can cite more, if you wish...

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

That is why so many come to the US for their surgery...

I don't really have a dog in this hunt, but am just curious. Do Canadians who come here for these fairly large procedures, then just pay cash for it and go home? The US hospitals must love these guys! I don't know very many who could afford to lay out 50-100K for something they could just wait awhile for and get for free. Unless it's just the Canadian version of 1%ers where money does not really mean anything?

All I can say is WOW!

I was senior partner and CFO in a private group practice for over 30 years, so please continue to explain to me how this works:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

What the heck does medical care have to do with Adidas?

Coming up on 400 posts.......................I had to go back to the OP's OP and remember what this thread was about.

Oh, that's right.

Any suggestions for good shoe for the OP???

The link is behind a pay wall, but I don't consider the WSJ to provide fair reporting anyway.

Not a clue. Ask the people who brought it up.I'm only answering their questions...

Pray tell, who DO you consider fair? (this should be interesting...)

That's easy. No one.

If I wanted to get a "fair" look at this topic, for example, I'd read the WSJ, NYT, WaP , BBC or Guardian and something (don't know what) from Canada. Somewhere in all that is the "fair" look at the facts.

Well, at least one of those is "fair".

So, you'd read the WSJ, but when I cite the WSJ, it's not good enough? :shocked:

Exactly. It's one part of the story. IMHO (and it's only MO) you never get the fair (meaning all side considered) story with one source. If you just want to have your pre determined opinion supported - one source is fine. If you want something closer to the truth - you need to listen to all sides!

There is fair and than there is fair.

I get all my "news" from CNN+:icon_wink:

And then pick the one (s) that are the closest to your already established opinion