"Swingman" wrote in message
...
On 3/21/2010 8:27 PM, LDosser wrote:
"Swingman" wrote in message
...
On 3/21/2010 7:35 PM, Han wrote:

So "effectiveness studies" should give you better care (less side
effects) and less costs. Your irrational fear of someone deciding for
you what kind of care you are going to get has warped your mind. Do
your
research of what you think you need and have a good talk with someone
you
trust, then with your doctor. And, please, do write down your living
will, advance directives or whatever you want to call them.

I don't mind giving you a personal, real life, less than 72 hours old,
example of the above.

Appointment at the VA for shoulder problem on this past Friday AM
(believe me, I _earned_ the VA medical care ("entitlement", if you
wish), the hard way!).

This was the third visit on this issue, taking four months to get this
far, each visit hopefully getting closer to an actual diagnoses, and
subsequent relief, based on something besides conjecture on the part
of the primary care physician, a GI specialist (but as long as I ask
the right questions, a competent health care professional).

Not enough doctors to go around in Orthopedics, so, after two and a
half hour wait, get a PA, (very accented English and hard to
understand, but very nice, attentive and obviously caring). PA
ultimately makes determination to give steroid injection in shoulder
(step 5 of apparently a 10 step procedure that must be followed, in
order).

Relief is not as obvious as have been led to believe, so after a few
hours start doing some research on the expected efficacy of the
injection, with particular emphasis upon the site of the PA
administered injection, (posterior shoulder in this instance, with the
main problem exhibited on the anterior).

From a doctor friend: "A lateral injection is generally the preferred
site and best for the desired result. The posterior location is
considered the easiest place to administer the injection. It is the
site that requires the least amount of skill, and the site where it is
recommended for the unskilled to administer the procedure".

Light pops on ... basically, got a steroid injection (ouch!), in an
area of the shoulder least likely to benefit from the procedure, and
by an unskilled PA, with no doctor available.

Next possible appointment, and to then OK the escalation to the step 6
- to see if an MRI is warranted: late July, 2010.

Don't get me wrong, this better than no care at all, but arguably
"second rate" by any medical yardstick.

That said, I accept the entirety of any blame because I failed to do
my homework beforehand. Had I done that, I could have asked the
correct, informed, questions and probably gotten a better result.

However, this anecdote is NOT partisan conjecture ... it is actual,
day before yesterday, "US government health care", in practice.

Moral: we should be damn careful what we wish for ...and, if you get
nothing else from this little anecdote, most definitely prepare
yourself to do MUCH more in managing your own health care when this
bill passes.

You need to do that regardless.

I have a story similar to yours playing out over 42 months. Difference
being civilian treatment: steroid injection of lumbar spine, progressing
to spinal stenosis and surgery for fusion of lumbar vertebrae,
progressing to continued issues and an MRI of the cervical spine showing
stenosis that was Obviously there prior to the first surgery,
progressing to fusion of cervical vertabrae. ALL choreographed by The
Insurance Company who determined the allowability of the MRIs, and the
initial Useless steroid injection. Had I thought about it, I could have
Faked symptoms to get the MRI of my neck at the same time as the lumbar
area and may have had both surgeries sooner. And, of course, all the
screwing around left damage ...

Not that I'm a fan of the idiotic bill being voted on as we speak.

My little complaint pales in comparison

No medical complaint pales.

... sorry to hear that. Going though similar insurance dance with youngest
daughter's bid to not go blind ... tough choices, but it could be 1900
with NO choices.

Well, the medicine is better ... Hopefully your daughter will benefit from
the improvements in medicine.