| Living in today's world can be and certainly is | | | | that none of their concerns were addressed, then |
| challenging. The very basics of needs are | | | | not only apathy but a very dangerous precedent |
| outpricing a person's ability to pay for them. | | | | begins to rear its ugly head. |
| Medical costs are skyrocketing, but while the cost | | | | Patients with work-related injuries cannot turn to |
| of going to a doctor seems to be getting harder | | | | their companies because usually these companies |
| to comprehend, the care from some doctors is | | | | have hired agencies to make sure that the patient |
| getting more basic or cost cutting. It seems | | | | doctor relationship is a quick and inexpensive as |
| especially in the fields of worker's compensation | | | | possible. They can't go to the insurance company |
| or work-related injuries, physicians and other | | | | because again agendas and quotas are in question |
| medical professionals are certainly overwhelmed | | | | and money is the bottom issue. Attorneys are |
| and over-worked. This, however, to a patient, is | | | | working for the patient but with a windfall on their |
| not a very comforting excuse. It seems that a | | | | side so turning to them could exasperate the |
| situation such as this was relegated to senior | | | | patient and he/she could find themselves |
| citizens, because physicians were becoming | | | | becoming rubber bands between the powers that |
| accustomed to chronic complaints and repeat | | | | be and the powers that want a court judgment in |
| maladies. | | | | the six-figure amounts. |
| When a physician takes his/her oath of office, | | | | Medical doctors have changed over the years. |
| they are giving up their rights to withhold care and | | | | Bedside manner is no longer essential and taking |
| concern in dealing with patients, regardless of the | | | | into consideration the patient's mental anguish is |
| number of complaints and maladies that patients | | | | usually turned over to therapists. A patient who is |
| bring into their offices. When a worker is injured | | | | hurting or in pain doesn't want to find out what his |
| on the job, it seems that they are left alone in | | | | her mother or father did in their childhood that |
| left field, because the doctor has the insurance | | | | may have hurt them, they want to know what is |
| companies, and workmen's compensation | | | | wrong with them and what can be done to |
| personnel on their trail to cut costs, cut visits and | | | | alleviate pain. Doctors don't return phone calls, |
| discharge a patient as quickly as possible. | | | | numerous attempts at reaching a physician must |
| Physicians sometimes feel that they are being | | | | be made and the feeling of "bothering" medical |
| second-guessed and respond by "going the way" | | | | personnel become apparent when patients persist. |
| of easier to get rid of then harder to try and | | | | Sometimes serious results have come about |
| figure out what is really wrong with a patient. If a | | | | because a doctor turned a deaf ear to a patient |
| patient complains of new aches and pains while | | | | who was complaining. This then joins the circle and |
| under the care of a physician in the field of | | | | malpractice insurance rises to begin the doctors to |
| industry caring, the physician will ignore any new | | | | ignore and move patients through their office |
| complaints, revert to dealing with the original | | | | faster than the racks at a packaging company. |
| complaint, and then discharge a patient when the | | | | Health care in America needs to change, costs |
| caring insurance agent is right there in the office | | | | must be brought under control, but first and |
| with the patient taking notes and suggesting | | | | foremost a return to bed side caring and sharing |
| alternatives. This is fine and good for the physician | | | | must become part of a doctor's practice routine. |
| because he/she gets paid, the insurance agent | | | | While house visits are no longer feasible, a doctor |
| saves his/her company money and might get a | | | | must give a patient enough time to relate what is |
| raise in the offing, but the patient is told usually to | | | | "hurting", but also to take the time to at least |
| literally "deal with it." There have been patients | | | | look at the "hurting" body part. So many times |
| who were told that it might be age creeping in | | | | doctors reach for the prescription pad and "take |
| and aches and pains are common. | | | | this" becomes the result. Many times patients |
| Back problems are the number one complaint | | | | have to ask, "Don't you even want to take a |
| with work-related injuries. Symptoms can range | | | | look?" This is both embarrassing and demeaning. |
| from mild to anguish. However, doctors are | | | | Work related injuries are a two prong stab. You |
| ignoring some complaints and using the quickest, | | | | are injured at work, you need to keep your job |
| and least expensive ways to release these types | | | | because of this economic crisis, but you need to |
| of injuries. Some are life long and a patient's | | | | know what is really wrong with you and how to |
| mental attitude and needs have to be taken into | | | | correct it or relieve it. If the company won't help, |
| account so that treatment is both successful and | | | | the insurance carrier cares for bottom line, and |
| permanent. | | | | the doctor has a schedule that even a whole |
| Dealing with pain, especially in the back and | | | | hospital of doctors couldn't efficiently care for, |
| skeleton areas of the body is not an easy | | | | then a patient stands alone, distressed, in pain, and |
| prescription. It leaves so many unanswered | | | | baiting further injury because of lack of care. |
| questions such as why does this hurt, is my | | | | Quite a dilemma. Health care is and should be |
| condition deteriorating, or what are my options | | | | about the patients and the medical population |
| for the future? Whether a patient has a | | | | must remember their oath of office, and the |
| permanent disability or even a temporary | | | | insurance companies and industries must allow a |
| backstep to good health, it is paramount that | | | | doctor to do what he/she feels is in the best |
| physicians offer the common courtesy demanded | | | | interests of the patient. Is this possible? By all |
| by their profession to at least listen, examine, and | | | | means yes. Will it be a reality? That is in the stars |
| diagnose any new or continuing symptoms. There | | | | and in the hope that doctors remember who |
| are an avalanche of cases recently where doctors | | | | does come first. Patients are your career choice - |
| simply discharge, fill out forms, and go on to the | | | | if you wanted industry and insurance, then maybe |
| sometimes hundreds other cases they have | | | | selling insurance if your forte. However, the |
| undertaken. Industry medicine is lucrative and it is | | | | salaries and fees of having M.D. after your name |
| job security. Companies and the government | | | | does not mean that you are above decency, |
| want good care, but in the least amount of time | | | | they do mean that your medical profession |
| and with the least expense allowed. When a | | | | demands that you show your professional care of |
| patient leaves a medical office and realizes sadly | | | | a whole person. |