Healthcare is broken

Of course it is.  It has been for years.  And it will only get worse.  Ask Canadians why they come to America to pay cash for their operations instead of sitting on a waiting list. 

Today, I transported a man, who called 911 because he was having "burning while urinating."  Now, one might opine that perhaps this was a man who had no access to health care, or couldn't afford it, or blah, blah blah.  None of that is the case.

This guy lives in an active adult living complex which costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,000 per month.  His apartment was well-furnished, and I noticed a degree from a 4-year university.  His keys had a (what appeared to be fairly new) remote keyless entry for a Buick.  He used his iPhone to call his daughter to tell her he would need a ride home from the hospital.  He had prescription medications from a private physician.  He was well-dressed, in brand-name clothing.  Along with his prescription medications, he handed Slimm a Medicare card.

This patient phoned his private physician who informed him that he was unable to make an appointment for today, and suggested the patient seek care in an emergency room.  The patient decided that it would be more convenient to call 911, then to get in his own car and drive himself there.  He mentioned he wanted to "be seen quicker."

Several thoughts:

This man's problem (likely) could have been treated with a $60 visit to his primary care physician, and with $10 generic antibiotics.  Instead, he tied up a valuable resource for 45 minutes, costing Medicare roughly $800 for the ambulance ride, and probably somewhere near $1,500 for the ER visit. 

Means testing has been suggested for Social Security.  Perhaps it is time to means test Medicare, along with Medicaid.  I'm not suggesting that we throw our senior citizens to the wolves.  We certainly owe them a debt.  But $2,300 for a urinary tract infection?

While healthcare is certainly broken, and in need of fixing, President Obama's suggestion of a single-payor system will never fix the problem, but will only add to the fraud and rampant fiscal irresponsibility.  I would propose my idea for a healthcare solution, but that is a topic for another post.  I will go so far as to say that a single-payor system will only lead to rationing and a decrease in the quality of care.  (See my earlier comment on Canada.)

Shame on the private physician for suggesting the the patient increase the burden on an already over-burdened ER instead of either a) squeezing the patient into the schedule, even if it meant staying late, or b) calling a prescription in to a local pharmacy for an antibiotic, and making an appointment for tomorrow.

Shame on the patient for being so incredibly selfish as to demand a crew of two people, capable of performing meaningful interventions, be taken away from the citizens in their zone to provide him a courtesy ride to the local hospital. 

Shame on me for contributing to the fleecing of America.

I would apologize, but if I didn't transport this man to the hospital, then I wouldn't have a job.  And my family likes to eat. 

(sorry, America)