Comments on: CANADIAN PREMIER RUNS TO U.S. FOR HEART SURGERY http://www.healthcarebs.com/2010/02/02/canadian-premier-runs-to-us-for-heart-surgery/ Cleaning the Augean Stables of the Health Care Debate Thu, 10 May 2012 21:39:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kay Stevens http://www.healthcarebs.com/2010/02/02/canadian-premier-runs-to-us-for-heart-surgery/#comment-461935 Kay Stevens Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:47:45 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2010/02/02/canadian-premier-runs-to-us-for-heart-surgery/#comment-461935 US hospitals treat many patients on a compassionate care basis, I worked for a hospital where 70% of patients were poor uninsured and many illegal aliens. It was one of many such centers in our area. US has extensive care for the poor. Sick children not only have s-chip they also have free , clean good quality housing for themselves and their families near the hospital. (Yes, I have had experience with a single payer system. I used to live in the UK and had to try to use the NHS. I can't tell you whether it was good or not, as they refused to treat or even diagnose me time and time again despite a very worrying painful and swollen condition. ) Solutions for the US: -Allow insurance purchase across state lines- -tort reform -HSAs for non-major costs -Do not require purchases of insurance for items such as infertility treatment, etc. that are not bona fide medical necessities (offer as an option) . Note on infant mortality rates: the US counts all live births no matter how low the birth weight , many single payer countries do not include preemies less that a certain weight, hence they incorrectly claim a lower infant mortality rate. US hospitals treat many patients on a compassionate care basis, I worked for a hospital where 70% of patients were poor uninsured and many illegal aliens. It was one of many such centers in our area. US has extensive care for the poor. Sick children not only have s-chip they also have free , clean good quality housing for themselves and their families near the hospital.

(Yes, I have had experience with a single payer system. I used to live in the UK and had to try to use the NHS. I can’t tell you whether it was good or not, as they refused to treat or even diagnose me time and time again despite a very worrying painful and swollen condition. )

Solutions for the US:

-Allow insurance purchase across state lines-
-tort reform
-HSAs for non-major costs
-Do not require purchases of insurance for items such as infertility treatment, etc. that are not bona fide medical necessities (offer as an option) .

Note on infant mortality rates: the US counts all live births no matter how low the birth weight , many single payer countries do not include preemies less that a certain weight, hence they incorrectly claim a lower infant mortality rate.

]]> By: Brian Laan http://www.healthcarebs.com/2010/02/02/canadian-premier-runs-to-us-for-heart-surgery/#comment-457997 Brian Laan Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:48:16 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2010/02/02/canadian-premier-runs-to-us-for-heart-surgery/#comment-457997 Unfortunately I read and see hundreds of articles condemning public health care in countries such as France, Britain and Canada from people who have little to no knowledge and sensationalize what they choose to cherry pick. Most Canadians will tell you we have an excellent system. We live longer, have a lower infant mortality rate and pay about half of what Americans do. Reality - US medical system doesn't want to see their pay cut in half. Let's cut through all the fluff and admit greed is more important than health care. Unfortunately I read and see hundreds of articles condemning public health care in countries such as France, Britain and Canada from people who have little to no knowledge and sensationalize what they choose to cherry pick. Most Canadians will tell you we have an excellent system. We live longer, have a lower infant mortality rate and pay about half of what Americans do. Reality – US medical system doesn’t want to see their pay cut in half. Let’s cut through all the fluff and admit greed is more important than health care.

]]> By: Marc Brown http://www.healthcarebs.com/2010/02/02/canadian-premier-runs-to-us-for-heart-surgery/#comment-457783 Marc Brown Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:41:04 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2010/02/02/canadian-premier-runs-to-us-for-heart-surgery/#comment-457783 The Richardson case was looked at extensively at the time - as she refused more help initially it is unlikely that any ski resort in the world could have then got her to a hospital in time given the delay and the remoteness of most resorts. We had a case here in the UK where a paramedic put a bolt in someone's skull and saved his life - I can't imagine anyone in the US would have tried that on Natasha Richardson. And the key lesson here is - wear a helmet. The Richardson case was looked at extensively at the time – as she refused more help initially it is unlikely that any ski resort in the world could have then got her to a hospital in time given the delay and the remoteness of most resorts. We had a case here in the UK where a paramedic put a bolt in someone’s skull and saved his life – I can’t imagine anyone in the US would have tried that on Natasha Richardson. And the key lesson here is – wear a helmet.

]]> By: Joseph C. http://www.healthcarebs.com/2010/02/02/canadian-premier-runs-to-us-for-heart-surgery/#comment-457762 Joseph C. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:51:46 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2010/02/02/canadian-premier-runs-to-us-for-heart-surgery/#comment-457762 "But a poor Canadian will be treated to a high standard of care for free." Since we're dealing in anecdotes, do you think Natasha Richardson was treated to a "high standard of care"? “But a poor Canadian will be treated to a high standard of care for free.”

Since we’re dealing in anecdotes, do you think Natasha Richardson was treated to a “high standard of care”?

]]> By: Marc Brown http://www.healthcarebs.com/2010/02/02/canadian-premier-runs-to-us-for-heart-surgery/#comment-457709 Marc Brown Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:43:34 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2010/02/02/canadian-premier-runs-to-us-for-heart-surgery/#comment-457709 Predictable to see yet more straw man stuff from you - rich people the world over use their wealth to go wherever they want for treatment. A poor uninsured American has no more chance of accessing the heart clinic this guy is going to than they have of getting the very latest cancer treatment at the MD Anderson. But a poor Canadian will be treated to a high standard of care for free. Predictable to see yet more straw man stuff from you – rich people the world over use their wealth to go wherever they want for treatment. A poor uninsured American has no more chance of accessing the heart clinic this guy is going to than they have of getting the very latest cancer treatment at the MD Anderson. But a poor Canadian will be treated to a high standard of care for free.

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