Comments on: Doctors Unite http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/doctors-unite.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: ObGynThoughtshttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85715 ObGynThoughts Wed, 21 May 2008 16:21:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85715 excellent frist step for physicians! Apparently this is only the frist of several letters and the solutions will come in the follow up letters. Yes, it is broad and general and I think that is adequate for a start. Yes, it may benefit Sermo.com adn there is nothing wrong with that. What matters is that this is a good start to have physicians talk to each other, to use the Internet as a the new and more useful platform to communicate. That is what Sermo is, a platform, as simple as that. And it allows physicians to talk to each other across speciality lines and across any geographical boundaries, something that is sorely needed. Physicians need to unite. We are medicine. We have to stop accepting what business people and politicians cook up for health care and then expect us to swallow. We are medicine, "they" are the mere monkeys on our backs.<br/>And I am definitely not in favor of any kind of single payer third party payer system or any other kind of government control. Instituting socialistic single payer system would competely and sadly miss the root problem in health care: the fact that "we are shopping with someone else's credit card". As long as a third party pays the bills, we will encourage waste, as long as a third party pays the bills, we will overspend, as long as a third party pays the bills, costs will continue to rise "unstoppable", as long as a third party pays the bills, it will go downhill. <br/>and it does not matter if that third party is a commerical insurance company or the government. Think about it. I have worked in Europe and I have seen the exact, but absolutely exact same problems and developements that we see here in Europe - just in socialized medicine. Socialistic or capitalistic does not matter. The third party payer system is the real problem. excellent frist step for physicians! Apparently this is only the frist of several letters and the solutions will come in the follow up letters. Yes, it is broad and general and I think that is adequate for a start. Yes, it may benefit Sermo.com adn there is nothing wrong with that. What matters is that this is a good start to have physicians talk to each other, to use the Internet as a the new and more useful platform to communicate. That is what Sermo is, a platform, as simple as that. And it allows physicians to talk to each other across speciality lines and across any geographical boundaries, something that is sorely needed. Physicians need to unite. We are medicine. We have to stop accepting what business people and politicians cook up for health care and then expect us to swallow. We are medicine, “they” are the mere monkeys on our backs.
And I am definitely not in favor of any kind of single payer third party payer system or any other kind of government control. Instituting socialistic single payer system would competely and sadly miss the root problem in health care: the fact that “we are shopping with someone else’s credit card”. As long as a third party pays the bills, we will encourage waste, as long as a third party pays the bills, we will overspend, as long as a third party pays the bills, costs will continue to rise “unstoppable”, as long as a third party pays the bills, it will go downhill.
and it does not matter if that third party is a commerical insurance company or the government. Think about it. I have worked in Europe and I have seen the exact, but absolutely exact same problems and developements that we see here in Europe – just in socialized medicine. Socialistic or capitalistic does not matter. The third party payer system is the real problem.

]]> By: alexa-bluehttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85510 alexa-blue Fri, 09 May 2008 04:06:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85510 If I were the public, I would want proof that supporting better treatment of doctors really will lead to better treatment of patients before I signed. I have a feeling that doctors wouldn't unite behind that. If I were the public, I would want proof that supporting better treatment of doctors really will lead to better treatment of patients before I signed. I have a feeling that doctors wouldn’t unite behind that.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85509 Anonymous Fri, 09 May 2008 03:20:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85509 And this is why we physicians fail.<br/><br/>We cannot even agree to support a letter stating that we are unhappy with the system. We cannot sign because we have not spelled out the exact steps to solve the problem, or the AMA is behind it, or big pharma, or a myriad of excuses to cloud the issue. The government, big pharma, the medico-legal complex and the insurance industry know this, and it makes us weak and exploitable. <br/><br/> As far as the general public is concerned, the average person thinks we are actually in charge and happy with this abomination of a system. Most feel we are the cliche of the overpaid and underworked doctor, driving our high priced sports car to the golf course on a Wednesday afternoon. Universal healthcare is a must to reign in the fat cat doctors and make them accountable. Just ask your patients what they think, and the stereotype emerges.<br/><br/> <br/> But ask yourself this. What would the ramifications be if most of the physicians in the country signed this letter? Would the politicians worry? Would the press ask what is going on? Would your patients maybe ask why you feel so strong about an issue?<br/><br/>So I ask you non-signers to reconsider. We must let the general public know that we are not happy, and some of the reasons why. Discussions and solutions will follow. To say nothing to the general public is to suffer in silence, perpetuate the stereotype, and seal this system in concrete. <br/><br/>Baby steps, my fellow physicians, baby steps! And this is why we physicians fail.

We cannot even agree to support a letter stating that we are unhappy with the system. We cannot sign because we have not spelled out the exact steps to solve the problem, or the AMA is behind it, or big pharma, or a myriad of excuses to cloud the issue. The government, big pharma, the medico-legal complex and the insurance industry know this, and it makes us weak and exploitable.

As far as the general public is concerned, the average person thinks we are actually in charge and happy with this abomination of a system. Most feel we are the cliche of the overpaid and underworked doctor, driving our high priced sports car to the golf course on a Wednesday afternoon. Universal healthcare is a must to reign in the fat cat doctors and make them accountable. Just ask your patients what they think, and the stereotype emerges.

But ask yourself this. What would the ramifications be if most of the physicians in the country signed this letter? Would the politicians worry? Would the press ask what is going on? Would your patients maybe ask why you feel so strong about an issue?

So I ask you non-signers to reconsider. We must let the general public know that we are not happy, and some of the reasons why. Discussions and solutions will follow. To say nothing to the general public is to suffer in silence, perpetuate the stereotype, and seal this system in concrete.

Baby steps, my fellow physicians, baby steps!

]]> By: ER doctorhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85508 ER doctor Fri, 09 May 2008 01:58:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85508 Well, we can bet it's not the AMA (or any other medical 'society') sponsoring something that actually matters and initiates constructive dialogue regarding the *real* problems with healthcare today in America. Well, we can bet it’s not the AMA (or any other medical ‘society’) sponsoring something that actually matters and initiates constructive dialogue regarding the *real* problems with healthcare today in America.

]]> By: janemariemdhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85506 janemariemd Fri, 09 May 2008 01:15:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85506 I guess I pretty much agree with the above comenter. In addition, I am a little troubled that this apparently is being sponsored by Sermo--isn't this just a thinly veiled ploy for Sermo to get more MD contacts/members?? I guess I pretty much agree with the above comenter. In addition, I am a little troubled that this apparently is being sponsored by Sermo–isn’t this just a thinly veiled ploy for Sermo to get more MD contacts/members??

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85504 Anonymous Thu, 08 May 2008 21:57:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85504 "This letter is merely a summary of the most important problems in our current system. "<br/><br/>You can say that again.<br/><br/>I'm sorry, maybe I'm missing the point but...what<br/>exactly are we uniting for? There's a lot of broad,<br/>generalized complaining going on without much in the way of proposed soltutions. It's hard to unite behind a cause when that cause isn't offering any real action. We seem to be in favor of health coverage for everyone but, at the same time, against "excessive government regulation". Yet, we're also against insurance companies with their "oppressive control of healthcare processes." That doesn't leave us much in the way of options (as evidenced by the blatant lack of alternatives offered in the letter). Maybe we're for McCain's capitalist model of health care delivery, particularly given our disdain for employee sponsored coverage. I'm just guessing since there are no answers given in the letter. I won't sign anything until I know what I'm backing. <br/><br/>This letter is filled with the same ineffectual<br/>ranting that has always characterized organized physician approaches to health care reform - great at pointing out the problems (which, by now, have been thoroughly ingrained in our collective conscience) and short on solutions. <br/><br/>And please, if you're going to make broad<br/>generalizations, at least make sure their true. <br/>Americans pay a lot in health care but "don't get<br/>enough in return"? We are the most over-managed,<br/>over-medicated, over-diagnosed society on the planet. We certainly don't need MORE healthcare - if anything we need more people each getting LESS healthcare. As we've learned recently, more health care doesn't equal better healthcare. “This letter is merely a summary of the most important problems in our current system. “

You can say that again.

I’m sorry, maybe I’m missing the point but…what
exactly are we uniting for? There’s a lot of broad,
generalized complaining going on without much in the way of proposed soltutions. It’s hard to unite behind a cause when that cause isn’t offering any real action. We seem to be in favor of health coverage for everyone but, at the same time, against “excessive government regulation”. Yet, we’re also against insurance companies with their “oppressive control of healthcare processes.” That doesn’t leave us much in the way of options (as evidenced by the blatant lack of alternatives offered in the letter). Maybe we’re for McCain’s capitalist model of health care delivery, particularly given our disdain for employee sponsored coverage. I’m just guessing since there are no answers given in the letter. I won’t sign anything until I know what I’m backing.

This letter is filled with the same ineffectual
ranting that has always characterized organized physician approaches to health care reform – great at pointing out the problems (which, by now, have been thoroughly ingrained in our collective conscience) and short on solutions.

And please, if you’re going to make broad
generalizations, at least make sure their true.
Americans pay a lot in health care but “don’t get
enough in return”? We are the most over-managed,
over-medicated, over-diagnosed society on the planet. We certainly don’t need MORE healthcare – if anything we need more people each getting LESS healthcare. As we’ve learned recently, more health care doesn’t equal better healthcare.

]]> By: shinejilhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85500 shinejil Thu, 08 May 2008 16:49:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85500 Here, here! As a member of the aforementioned public, I'd happily sign on to a petition like that. Here, here! As a member of the aforementioned public, I’d happily sign on to a petition like that.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85497 Anonymous Thu, 08 May 2008 15:21:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85497 They need to add "paycheck" for full alliterative effect. They need to add “paycheck” for full alliterative effect.

]]> By: The Happy Hospitalisthttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85495 The Happy Hospitalist Thu, 08 May 2008 14:25:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/05/doctors-unite.html#comment-85495 I proudly signed. <br/><br/>Now, we need to get one for the public to sign it too. I proudly signed.

Now, we need to get one for the public to sign it too.

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