huge topic:Americans keep getting fatter

[briansd1]

[quote=ocrenter]
this is a system that emphasize emergent heroics, but let millions lapse in fundamental preventives. in essence, we won’t let you die, but we’ll make you live in misery.[/quote]

well said. He have a huge population that doesn’t get health care until they are near collapse. Then we “care” for them one time at the emergency room, until they are near collapse again and reenter the emergency room, and again and again.

[quote=sdrealtor]Every question I asked my friend who consults, teaches and builds health care delivery systems all over the world he always ended with the same statement. With all its flaws we still have the best health care in the world in the US. Next on his calender is the Ukraine and then Iraq. [/quote]

What’s wrong with us Americans is that we tend to think our model is the best. Look at the prescriptions of the IMF and World Bank.

Of all the “third world” countries, the Philippines most closely followed the American model to a tee. Look at the results.

Then compare the results of those who adapted their own models: Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, China.

Like health care, it could be argued that we have the best, safest food supply. When we return from an overseas trip, Customs will screen out food because the microbes from abroad might contaminate our food supply.

But look at the results. We have a population of disgustingly obese people on meds. Few people are not on some kind of meds regularly (Tylenol, Advil and OTC meds count too).

Our life expectancy and old age quality of life sucks.

Our system and the Pharmas enable indulgence and irresponsibility by stuffing people with meds instead of forcing them to make beneficial lifestyle changes.

I say look at the results of our health care system and food supply. The results speak louder than words.

Sure, our system is good at prolonging the lives of people like Dick Cheney and Terri Shivo at great costs (thanks to technology). But what does it do for the population at large?

I’m afraid that American citizens won’t come to their senses until they become chronically sick and bedridden. Those who oppose health care reform should mark my words for when they are old and sick.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=walterwhite] . . . we also have the best justice system in the world. There is no place on earth where you can get more justice than in US courtrooms. The world over, the injustice in various courthouses is palpable. here, however, the justice is being produced at massive quaantites and of extremely high quality. . . [/quote]

Scaredy, this is a very astute “in-the-trenches” observation for the American (or at least CA) criminal justice system. Totally agree with it.

HOWEVER, I believe a civil courthouse in CA could be more aptly referred to as a “Hall of Results.” Given all the budget cuts of late (substantially increasing time and costs of litigation) and exorbitant costs of proper representation, the current situation is what it is. This is why I highly recommend making a “back room deal” with your opponent(s) very early on in nice darkened law-firm conference room with fresh-roasted coffee brewing (and competent counsel chained to all parties ankles’) IF AT ALL HUMANLY POSSIBLE, if not NOW, then TRY AGAIN.

Just my .02, FWIW.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=walterwhite] . . . we also have the best justice system in the world. There is no place on earth where you can get more justice than in US courtrooms. The world over, the injustice in various courthouses is palpable. here, however, the justice is being produced at massive quaantites and of extremely high quality. . . [/quote]

Scaredy, this is a very astute “in-the-trenches” observation for the American (or at least CA) criminal justice system. Totally agree with it.

HOWEVER, I believe a civil courthouse in CA could be more aptly referred to as a “Hall of Results.” Given all the budget cuts of late (substantially increasing time and costs of litigation) and exorbitant costs of proper representation, the current situation is what it is. This is why I highly recommend making a “back room deal” with your opponent(s) very early on in nice darkened law-firm conference room with fresh-roasted coffee brewing (and competent counsel chained to all parties ankles’) IF AT ALL HUMANLY POSSIBLE, if not NOW, then TRY AGAIN.

Just my .02, FWIW.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=walterwhite] . . . we also have the best justice system in the world. There is no place on earth where you can get more justice than in US courtrooms. The world over, the injustice in various courthouses is palpable. here, however, the justice is being produced at massive quaantites and of extremely high quality. . . [/quote]

Scaredy, this is a very astute “in-the-trenches” observation for the American (or at least CA) criminal justice system. Totally agree with it.

HOWEVER, I believe a civil courthouse in CA could be more aptly referred to as a “Hall of Results.” Given all the budget cuts of late (substantially increasing time and costs of litigation) and exorbitant costs of proper representation, the current situation is what it is. This is why I highly recommend making a “back room deal” with your opponent(s) very early on in nice darkened law-firm conference room with fresh-roasted coffee brewing (and competent counsel chained to all parties ankles’) IF AT ALL HUMANLY POSSIBLE, if not NOW, then TRY AGAIN.

Just my .02, FWIW.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=walterwhite] . . . we also have the best justice system in the world. There is no place on earth where you can get more justice than in US courtrooms. The world over, the injustice in various courthouses is palpable. here, however, the justice is being produced at massive quaantites and of extremely high quality. . . [/quote]

Scaredy, this is a very astute “in-the-trenches” observation for the American (or at least CA) criminal justice system. Totally agree with it.

HOWEVER, I believe a civil courthouse in CA could be more aptly referred to as a “Hall of Results.” Given all the budget cuts of late (substantially increasing time and costs of litigation) and exorbitant costs of proper representation, the current situation is what it is. This is why I highly recommend making a “back room deal” with your opponent(s) very early on in nice darkened law-firm conference room with fresh-roasted coffee brewing (and competent counsel chained to all parties ankles’) IF AT ALL HUMANLY POSSIBLE, if not NOW, then TRY AGAIN.

Just my .02, FWIW.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=walterwhite] . . . we also have the best justice system in the world. There is no place on earth where you can get more justice than in US courtrooms. The world over, the injustice in various courthouses is palpable. here, however, the justice is being produced at massive quaantites and of extremely high quality. . . [/quote]

Scaredy, this is a very astute “in-the-trenches” observation for the American (or at least CA) criminal justice system. Totally agree with it.

HOWEVER, I believe a civil courthouse in CA could be more aptly referred to as a “Hall of Results.” Given all the budget cuts of late (substantially increasing time and costs of litigation) and exorbitant costs of proper representation, the current situation is what it is. This is why I highly recommend making a “back room deal” with your opponent(s) very early on in nice darkened law-firm conference room with fresh-roasted coffee brewing (and competent counsel chained to all parties ankles’) IF AT ALL HUMANLY POSSIBLE, if not NOW, then TRY AGAIN.

Just my .02, FWIW.

[all]

[quote=sdrealtor]Exactly. Our system is not perfect nor is any system. If your dad’s case turned out to be unusual or complex he may have had a different experience. You dont get to pick what is wrong with you, it just happens and you have to deal with.[/quote]

Are you getting the most for the money? If your friend is saying that some of the hospitals in the US offer treatments that can be received in very few other countries, if any – I agree.

But I’ve also had disappointing experiences with the local health care system.

My wife’s condition was misdiagnosed by two different doctors as gas-related. It turned out she had a gallon of liquid in a benign cyst. Two days later she had a surgery, but it took 6 months and several “it’s just gas, just fart more” to get there.

It took me less than ten minutes to get to the urgent care when I injured my foot. It took another 30 minutes to get to triage. And another three hours to get to the x-ray and see a doctor. Now I’m being told that my recovery would be more complete and speedier if I had put some ice on my foot in the first few hours. And I was in the freaking urgent care facility.

Similarly, my son had to wait nearly four hours to get his cut glued when he cut his forehead. The scar would presumably be less visible had he receive treatment sooner.

I was forced to deal with health professionals in three different European countries and the US. In no other country was I told to come in two weeks to see my primary care physician. Based on my experience the US doctors are either incompetent or overworked while being less accessible and 5-10 times more expensive.

Again, I am comparing to countries like Hungary or Slovenia, not Iraq or Indonesia.

EDIT: The facilities in the US are generally equipped with better looking and more expensive equipment.

[all]

[quote=sdrealtor]Exactly. Our system is not perfect nor is any system. If your dad’s case turned out to be unusual or complex he may have had a different experience. You dont get to pick what is wrong with you, it just happens and you have to deal with.[/quote]

Are you getting the most for the money? If your friend is saying that some of the hospitals in the US offer treatments that can be received in very few other countries, if any – I agree.

But I’ve also had disappointing experiences with the local health care system.

My wife’s condition was misdiagnosed by two different doctors as gas-related. It turned out she had a gallon of liquid in a benign cyst. Two days later she had a surgery, but it took 6 months and several “it’s just gas, just fart more” to get there.

It took me less than ten minutes to get to the urgent care when I injured my foot. It took another 30 minutes to get to triage. And another three hours to get to the x-ray and see a doctor. Now I’m being told that my recovery would be more complete and speedier if I had put some ice on my foot in the first few hours. And I was in the freaking urgent care facility.

Similarly, my son had to wait nearly four hours to get his cut glued when he cut his forehead. The scar would presumably be less visible had he receive treatment sooner.

I was forced to deal with health professionals in three different European countries and the US. In no other country was I told to come in two weeks to see my primary care physician. Based on my experience the US doctors are either incompetent or overworked while being less accessible and 5-10 times more expensive.

Again, I am comparing to countries like Hungary or Slovenia, not Iraq or Indonesia.

EDIT: The facilities in the US are generally equipped with better looking and more expensive equipment.

[all]

[quote=sdrealtor]Exactly. Our system is not perfect nor is any system. If your dad’s case turned out to be unusual or complex he may have had a different experience. You dont get to pick what is wrong with you, it just happens and you have to deal with.[/quote]

Are you getting the most for the money? If your friend is saying that some of the hospitals in the US offer treatments that can be received in very few other countries, if any – I agree.

But I’ve also had disappointing experiences with the local health care system.

My wife’s condition was misdiagnosed by two different doctors as gas-related. It turned out she had a gallon of liquid in a benign cyst. Two days later she had a surgery, but it took 6 months and several “it’s just gas, just fart more” to get there.

It took me less than ten minutes to get to the urgent care when I injured my foot. It took another 30 minutes to get to triage. And another three hours to get to the x-ray and see a doctor. Now I’m being told that my recovery would be more complete and speedier if I had put some ice on my foot in the first few hours. And I was in the freaking urgent care facility.

Similarly, my son had to wait nearly four hours to get his cut glued when he cut his forehead. The scar would presumably be less visible had he receive treatment sooner.

I was forced to deal with health professionals in three different European countries and the US. In no other country was I told to come in two weeks to see my primary care physician. Based on my experience the US doctors are either incompetent or overworked while being less accessible and 5-10 times more expensive.

Again, I am comparing to countries like Hungary or Slovenia, not Iraq or Indonesia.

EDIT: The facilities in the US are generally equipped with better looking and more expensive equipment.

[all]

[quote=sdrealtor]Exactly. Our system is not perfect nor is any system. If your dad’s case turned out to be unusual or complex he may have had a different experience. You dont get to pick what is wrong with you, it just happens and you have to deal with.[/quote]

Are you getting the most for the money? If your friend is saying that some of the hospitals in the US offer treatments that can be received in very few other countries, if any – I agree.

But I’ve also had disappointing experiences with the local health care system.

My wife’s condition was misdiagnosed by two different doctors as gas-related. It turned out she had a gallon of liquid in a benign cyst. Two days later she had a surgery, but it took 6 months and several “it’s just gas, just fart more” to get there.

It took me less than ten minutes to get to the urgent care when I injured my foot. It took another 30 minutes to get to triage. And another three hours to get to the x-ray and see a doctor. Now I’m being told that my recovery would be more complete and speedier if I had put some ice on my foot in the first few hours. And I was in the freaking urgent care facility.

Similarly, my son had to wait nearly four hours to get his cut glued when he cut his forehead. The scar would presumably be less visible had he receive treatment sooner.

I was forced to deal with health professionals in three different European countries and the US. In no other country was I told to come in two weeks to see my primary care physician. Based on my experience the US doctors are either incompetent or overworked while being less accessible and 5-10 times more expensive.

Again, I am comparing to countries like Hungary or Slovenia, not Iraq or Indonesia.

EDIT: The facilities in the US are generally equipped with better looking and more expensive equipment.

[all]

[quote=sdrealtor]Exactly. Our system is not perfect nor is any system. If your dad’s case turned out to be unusual or complex he may have had a different experience. You dont get to pick what is wrong with you, it just happens and you have to deal with.[/quote]

Are you getting the most for the money? If your friend is saying that some of the hospitals in the US offer treatments that can be received in very few other countries, if any – I agree.

But I’ve also had disappointing experiences with the local health care system.

My wife’s condition was misdiagnosed by two different doctors as gas-related. It turned out she had a gallon of liquid in a benign cyst. Two days later she had a surgery, but it took 6 months and several “it’s just gas, just fart more” to get there.

It took me less than ten minutes to get to the urgent care when I injured my foot. It took another 30 minutes to get to triage. And another three hours to get to the x-ray and see a doctor. Now I’m being told that my recovery would be more complete and speedier if I had put some ice on my foot in the first few hours. And I was in the freaking urgent care facility.

Similarly, my son had to wait nearly four hours to get his cut glued when he cut his forehead. The scar would presumably be less visible had he receive treatment sooner.

I was forced to deal with health professionals in three different European countries and the US. In no other country was I told to come in two weeks to see my primary care physician. Based on my experience the US doctors are either incompetent or overworked while being less accessible and 5-10 times more expensive.

Again, I am comparing to countries like Hungary or Slovenia, not Iraq or Indonesia.

EDIT: The facilities in the US are generally equipped with better looking and more expensive equipment.

[sdrealtor]

Brain
My friend hasnt worked in the US for over a decade and his perspective is not to think our model is best. He is in the trenches and sees what goes on. Hope you enjoyed the Thai information also. He said they do a number of things very well there. The biggest difference he emphasized about US physicians over the Thai (and many other countries) physicians is the ability to think outside the box to find solutions when things arent exactly as they were taught. In Thailand if they dont see something fitting exactly in their frame of reference they refer you to someone else and this can go on and on. His point was that the concept of American ingenuity is very real.

[sdrealtor]

Brain
My friend hasnt worked in the US for over a decade and his perspective is not to think our model is best. He is in the trenches and sees what goes on. Hope you enjoyed the Thai information also. He said they do a number of things very well there. The biggest difference he emphasized about US physicians over the Thai (and many other countries) physicians is the ability to think outside the box to find solutions when things arent exactly as they were taught. In Thailand if they dont see something fitting exactly in their frame of reference they refer you to someone else and this can go on and on. His point was that the concept of American ingenuity is very real.

[sdrealtor]

Brain
My friend hasnt worked in the US for over a decade and his perspective is not to think our model is best. He is in the trenches and sees what goes on. Hope you enjoyed the Thai information also. He said they do a number of things very well there. The biggest difference he emphasized about US physicians over the Thai (and many other countries) physicians is the ability to think outside the box to find solutions when things arent exactly as they were taught. In Thailand if they dont see something fitting exactly in their frame of reference they refer you to someone else and this can go on and on. His point was that the concept of American ingenuity is very real.

[sdrealtor]

Brain
My friend hasnt worked in the US for over a decade and his perspective is not to think our model is best. He is in the trenches and sees what goes on. Hope you enjoyed the Thai information also. He said they do a number of things very well there. The biggest difference he emphasized about US physicians over the Thai (and many other countries) physicians is the ability to think outside the box to find solutions when things arent exactly as they were taught. In Thailand if they dont see something fitting exactly in their frame of reference they refer you to someone else and this can go on and on. His point was that the concept of American ingenuity is very real.

[Author]

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