Another Medical Post

[zentraed]

Just saw this one on washingtonpost.com. Link to article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/20/AR2007122002322.html?hpid=moreheadlines)

On-Call Specialists At Emergency Rooms Harder to Find, Keep

Crucial minutes, hours and even days can go by as patients suffering from trauma, strokes, broken bones and other maladies await evaluations by neurologists, orthopedic surgeons and other specialists because hospitals are having difficulty getting them to serve 24-hour emergency "on-call" shifts.

A nationwide survey by the American College of Emergency Physicians in 2005, the most recent available, found that of the 1,328 emergency department directors who responded, 73 percent said they had a problem with inadequate on-call coverage by specialists, including neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons and obstetrician/gynecologists. That was up from 67 percent in 2004.

For the most part, the dearth of specialists nationally arises not from a numerical shortage but from the growing unwillingness of many specialists to take on-call duty, said Ann S. O'Malley, a physician and senior researcher who co-authored a new study of the issue for the District-based Center for Studying Health System Change.

[HBox]

How about this fun story?

17 year old girl dies after CIGNA Healthcare denies coverage for liver transplant. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22357873/)

The family of a 17-year-old girl who died hours after her health insurer reversed a decision and said it would pay for a liver transplant plans to sue the company, their attorney said Friday.Nataline Sarkisyan died Thursday at about 6 p.m. at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. She had been in a vegetative state for weeks, said her mother, Hilda.
Attorney Mark Geragos said he plans to ask the district attorney to press murder or manslaughter charges against Cigna HealthCare in the case. The insurer “maliciously killed her” because it did not want to bear the expense of her transplant and aftercare, Geragos said.

A couple things: 1. Even if CIGNA approved the transplant right away there's still no guarantee she would have had one in time and 2. The outcomes for her transplant are very low and she was in very bad state to being with. Still, the doctors wanted to go through with it so there had to be some hope for her.

Still, I hope this family bankrupts CIGNA.

[Tenbatsuzen]

How about this fun story?

17 year old girl dies after CIGNA Healthcare denies coverage for liver transplant. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22357873/)



A couple things: 1. Even if CIGNA approved the transplant right away there's still no guarantee she would have had one in time and 2. The outcomes for her transplant are very low and she was in very bad state to being with. Still, the doctors wanted to go through with it so there had to be some hope for her.

Still, I hope this family bankrupts CIGNA.

Geragos is a shark too. Although it's a bit much to pursue murder charges.

[Mike Teacher]

When my mother had her knee operated on; each time, we took a Sharpie and wrote 'YES' on the knee to be cut, and a 'NO' on the other. She insisted; because she was an RN, complete with horror stories of sponge counts gone bad, and worse...

=

Less then a month ago I saw this, the quote is either hysterical or pathetic, or both:

For 3rd Time At Hospital, Doctors Operate On Wrong Side Of Brain

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Rhode Island Hospital has been fined $50,000 and reprimanded by the state Department of Health after its third instance this year of a doctor performing brain surgery in the wrong side of a patient's head.

"We are extremely concerned about this continuing pattern," health department director David R. Gifford said in a statement Monday.

LINK HERE (http://www.ksdk.com/news/health/health_article.aspx?storyid=135210)

[Tenbatsuzen]

*reads article*

Thoughts and prayers to 42nd Delay...

[Tenbatsuzen]

When my mother had her knee operated on; each time, we took a Sharpie and wrote 'YES' on the knee to be cut, and a 'NO' on the other. She insisted; because she was an RN, complete with horror stories of sponge counts gone bad, and worse...


That's just good sense right there. I'd do that too.

[scottinnj]

Me too, my wife is a nurse, she has horror stories that put my army stories to shame.

[scottinnj]

“They took my daughter away from me,” said Nataline’s father, Krikor, who appeared at the news conference with his 21-year-old son, Bedros.

Whoa, slow down there hoss. It's not like a organ donor transport helicopter was hovering above the hospital, waiting for Cigna's approval to go ahead with the proceedure.

But this whole "experimental surgery" thing is weird. I'd look into that and exploit it if I were Geragos.

[FUNKMAN]

i read an article recently that people without insurance have a 60% more chance of dying from cancer than people with insurance. it's basically saying that people are expendable. at face value it's criminal that all of the political leaders have insurance and millions of citizens do not.

warren buffet and family were being interviewed recently and they stated if the country's billionaires each gave 5% of their assets they could wipe out poverty for millions of people.

of course you just don't want to give people money when they have not earned it, but what's the answer. a majority of these people would be willing to give an honest days work at a job with a good salary and benefits but there are just not enough for everyone. people are being forced to live/work like illegal immigrants

[Hottub]

1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5 . ...
Oh shit!!

[A.J.]

Still, I hope this family bankrupts CIGNA.

Please, no! My company just switched over to CIGNA!

[HBox]

Please, no! My company just switched over to CIGNA!

I used to have CIGNA. In time, you'll wish they go bankrupt too.

[cougarjake13]

used to have cigna at my old company fucking hated them

glad to no longer be under their control

[A.J.]

I used to have CIGNA. In time, you'll wish they go bankrupt too.

I know. I miss Aetna already.

[Jughead]

1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5 . ...
Oh shit!!

Dr: I THINK there was only 4....Nurse...

[scottinnj]

I know. I miss Aetna already.

No shit! All the patients I deliver to, if they are covered by Aetna, it's paid for. No matter how expensive the drug is. Everytime.

My company loves Aetna and dealing with them, and the patients I talk to say that Aetna rules.

[Jughead]

No shit! All the patients I deliver to, if they are covered by Aetna, it's paid for. No matter how expensive the drug is. Everytime.

My company loves Aetna and dealing with them, and the patients I talk to say that Aetna rules.

That is great news.... my wife's company just switched to them...

[HBox]

Free Drug Samples more likely to go to wealthy and insured than poor patients. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22486745/)

It makes perfect sense if you are a doctor. Why give freebees to poorer patients who probably can't afford to come back often when you can give it to your regular customers?

Another way how running health care like a business totally fucks up common sense.