The best healthcare in America is government run

[editec]

I am satisfied with the treatment I get through the Veterans administration.

But I am informed by fellow vets who have recieved care in places other than Maine, that some Vets hospitals are a mess while others are provide excellent care.

One thing I can say with the benefit of my personal experience is that the care I recived at my VA is as good as any I have ever gotten in a private hospital or from a private MD.

 

[Political Junky]

Most private hospitals can only dream of the futuristic medicine Dr. Divya Shroff practices today. Outside an elderly patient's room, the attending physician gathers her residents around a wireless laptop propped on a mobile cart. Shroff accesses the patient's entire medical history--a stack of paper in most private hospitals. And instead of trekking to the radiology lab to view the latest X-ray, she brings it up on her computer screen. While Shroff is visiting the patient, a resident types in a request for pain medication, then punches the SEND button. Seconds later, the printer in the hospital pharmacy spits out the order. The druggist stuffs a plastic bag of pills into what looks like a tiny space capsule, then shoots it up to the ward in a vacuum tube. By the time Shroff wheels away her computer, a nurse walks up with the drugs.

Life in a big-name institution like the Mayo Clinic? Not hardly. Shroff, 31, a specialist in internal medicine, works at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Washington, where the vets who come for the cutting-edge treatment are mostly poor.

If you're surprised, that's understandable. Until the early 1990s, care at VA hospitals was so substandard that Congress considered shutting down the entire system and giving ex-G.I.s vouchers for treatment at private facilities. Today it's a very different story. The VA runs the largest integrated health-care system in the country, with more than 1,400 hospitals, clinics and nursing homes employing 14,800 doctors and 61,000 nurses. And by a number of measures, this government-managed health-care program--socialized medicine on a small scale--is beating the marketplace. For the sixth year in a row, VA hospitals last year scored higher than private facilities on the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index, based on patient surveys on the quality of care received. The VA scored 83 out of 100; private institutions, 71. Males 65 years and older receiving VA care had about a 40% lower risk of death than those enrolled in Medicare Advantage, whose care is provided through private health plans or HMOs, according to a study published in the April edition of Medical Care. Harvard University just gave the VA its Innovations in American Government Award for the agency's work in computerizing patient records.

And all that was achieved at a relatively low cost. In the past 10 years, the number of veterans receiving treatment from the VA has more than doubled, from 2.5 million to 5.3 million, but the agency has cared for them with 10,000 fewer employees. The VA's cost per patient has remained steady during the past 10 years. The cost of private care has jumped about 40% in that same period.

How Veterans' Hospitals Became the Best in Health Care - TIME

Oh Chris... really?

I didn't think there was anyone that didn't know most VA hospitals were performing miserably.

I recently had to see a specialist. I won't go into details, the old ladies here are much too rabid, but my bf found me a great doc and paid the bill. I felt like I'd stepped into the future. If you want the very best health care, IMO, you will find a great doc and pay them yourself. HMO's suck. PPO's suck. And I'm betting anything the gov't cooks up will make HMO's and PPO's look like they know what they're doing.

I think everyone in the world should get the very best health care. I wish there was a way to provide it. I'm like a bleeding heart Lib where health is concerned, but.... I don't think what I've heard so far is the solution. Is reform needed? Absolutely. Have I heard a workable idea from the Dems? No F'ing way. And holding up the VA as the beacon of hope... I wish it were true, Chris, truly I do, but I know better.

Bill Kristol admitted to Jon Stewart, on Monday night, that the US provides the very best care for our military...better than private care. Kristol was obviously pissed that he had admitted to such a thing.

 

[Epsilon Delta]

The only Vets that routinely go to the VA are those with no other options.

Oh, yeah? You don't say? What do you propose we do about those guys? Since "ONLY Vets with NO other options go to the VA"? Pesky. What do you suggest?

make senators and congress persons have to use the VA system

How the hell does that help?

 

[KittenKoder]

Chris ... that is the whole flaw in your argument ... there is no "best healthcare", they all have drawbacks, flaws, and corruption, it's all a matter of if the people are allowed to choose who they give their money to, which even with your system, there is no choice.

 

[DiveCon]

Oh, yeah? You don't say? What do you propose we do about those guys? Since "ONLY Vets with NO other options go to the VA"? Pesky. What do you suggest?

make senators and congress persons have to use the VA system

How the hell does that help?

they would make the system better if they had to be on it

 

[Epsilon Delta]

make senators and congress persons have to use the VA system

How the hell does that help?

they would make the system better if they had to be on it

Wait, I'm confused. Aren't most congresspeople rich and powerful? I thought you guys were in favour of those who can pay getting better health care; isn't that what the "magic of the market" is all about?

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, you should have a system that everyone's in, including members of congress. Just find it curious that YOU'D be in favour of it.

 

[DiveCon]

How the hell does that help?

they would make the system better if they had to be on it

Wait, I'm confused. Aren't most congresspeople rich and powerful? I thought you guys were in favour of those who can pay getting better health care; isn't that what the "magic of the market" is all about?

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, you should have a system that everyone's in, including members of congress. Just find it curious that YOU'D be in favour of it.

i dont want anyone else to be forced on it
but since the members of congress are the ones to set it up, i feel they should have to make do with the same treatments that they would give to a service member that is putting their lives on the line for this country


nothing more, nothing less

 

[Skull Pilot]

How the hell does that help?

they would make the system better if they had to be on it

Wait, I'm confused. Aren't most congresspeople rich and powerful? I thought you guys were in favour of those who can pay getting better health care; isn't that what the "magic of the market" is all about?

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, you should have a system that everyone's in, including members of congress. Just find it curious that YOU'D be in favour of it.

since our elected officials are so wealthy why the fuck do we pay for their insurance in the first place?

they should all be treated as independent contractors or self employed agents rather than federal employees.

 

[KittenKoder]

they would make the system better if they had to be on it

Wait, I'm confused. Aren't most congresspeople rich and powerful? I thought you guys were in favour of those who can pay getting better health care; isn't that what the "magic of the market" is all about?

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, you should have a system that everyone's in, including members of congress. Just find it curious that YOU'D be in favour of it.

since our elected officials are so wealthy why the fuck do we pay for their insurance in the first place?

Because ... they are all con artists and nothing more.

 

[manu1959]

Gee I just got back from my doctors office to day. My doctor set there with a laptop checking all my medical history. The Va does other interesting things like call you Saturday morning to tell you you have a doctors appointment the following Monday with out any other advance warning. If you try to go see the VA on your schedule rather than theirs expect to wait all day or expect to drive 60 miles to what the VA laughingly calls an urgent care facility. The only Vets that routinely go to the VA are those with no other options.

And those Vets are more satisfied with their care than the average for profit patient.

Sorry to bother you with the facts.

but you won't get VA care ...... you will get obama care ..... there will be a difference....

 

[KittenKoder]

The few vets I know in person (that are coherent enough) always complain about their VA ... odd.

 

[Amanda]

Bill Kristol admitted to Jon Stewart, on Monday night, that the US provides the very best care for our military...better than private care. Kristol was obviously pissed that he had admitted to such a thing.

So you're taking the word of someone that isn't a veteran talking to a comedian on a fake news show as proof of something? Don't get me wrong, I think Stewart is funny sometimes but I don't watch his show to stay informed on the issues, that's not what he does.

And Kristol... on this you'll take whatever he says as the gospel truth? The guy is a member of PNAC, and huge supporter of the war in Iraq and was key in killing Hillary's healthcare reform plan back in the day. But suddenly he has credibility with you?

Maybe you should visit a few VA hospitals and talk to the guys being treated there.

 

[Skull Pilot]

Bill Kristol admitted to Jon Stewart, on Monday night, that the US provides the very best care for our military...better than private care. Kristol was obviously pissed that he had admitted to such a thing.

So you're taking the word of someone that isn't a veteran talking to a comedian on a fake news show as proof of something? Don't get me wrong, I think Stewart is funny sometimes but I don't watch his show to stay informed on the issues, that's not what he does.

And Kristol... on this you'll take whatever he says as the gospel truth? The guy is a member of PNAC, and huge supporter of the war in Iraq and was key in killing Hillary's healthcare reform plan back in the day. But suddenly he has credibility with you?

Maybe you should visit a few VA hospitals and talk to the guys being treated there.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Amanda again

 

[Oddball]

Oh Chris... really?

I didn't think there was anyone that didn't know most VA hospitals were performing miserably.

I recently had to see a specialist. I won't go into details, the old ladies here are much too rabid, but my bf found me a great doc and paid the bill. I felt like I'd stepped into the future. If you want the very best health care, IMO, you will find a great doc and pay them yourself. HMO's suck. PPO's suck. And I'm betting anything the gov't cooks up will make HMO's and PPO's look like they know what they're doing.

I think everyone in the world should get the very best health care. I wish there was a way to provide it. I'm like a bleeding heart Lib where health is concerned, but.... I don't think what I've heard so far is the solution. Is reform needed? Absolutely. Have I heard a workable idea from the Dems? No F'ing way. And holding up the VA as the beacon of hope... I wish it were true, Chris, truly I do, but I know better.

One thing I like about the people here is that they never bother to read the articles at the links. Best to remain ignorant.

Oh I need to quote the article for credibility? Did you read it?



30 days? Really? Is this the utopia we can expect?

But that created a new problem. The VA's budget from Congress (currently about $30 billion annually) couldn't cover the influx. By January 2003, with hundreds of thousands waiting six months or more for their first appointment, the VA began limiting access to only vets with service-related injuries or illness or those with low income.

6 months? Yea, this is the VA I'm familiar with.

Ok, so you say this is proof gov't run health care would be good, what about this, from your article?

Congress has no plans to enlarge the scope of veterans' health care--much less consider it a model for, say, a government-run system serving nonvets.

Fail, fail, fail, Chris. Your article disproves your hypothesis.

Did you read it before you posted it? It basically talks about 1 facility that is doing ok, but goes on to make the point that it isn't typical and won't be the model for gov't run health care. Is this what you meant by counting on people NOT to read the article?

 

[Navy1960]

Let me put it to you this way Chris this healthcare your seeking from the Federal Govt. will have too survive many many challenges before it becomes a reality. Not the least of which is passing congress and the President placing his signature on the bill. This bill must survive state laws that may prohibit it's implementation and constitutional challenges as well as individuals downright ignoring it. So before you start dancing in the streets over the new social nirvana that your party is attempting to create here I'd advise you to temper that a little. I'm sure after all the Seniors get wind of what this bill has in store for them that this new agenda you and other wish to push off on the nation that they might find Obama's version of healthcare that wants them to all just die is not something they will find acceptable.

 

[Darkwind]

Let me put it to you this way Chris this healthcare your seeking from the Federal Govt. will have too survive many many challenges before it becomes a reality. Not the least of which is passing congress and the President placing his signature on the bill. This bill must survive state laws that may prohibit it's implementation and constitutional challenges as well as individuals downright ignoring it. So before you start dancing in the streets over the new social nirvana that your party is attempting to create here I'd advise you to temper that a little. I'm sure after all the Seniors get wind of what this bill has in store for them that this new agenda you and other wish to push off on the nation that they might find Obama's version of healthcare that wants them to all just die is not something they will find acceptable.

funny you should mention that. There are plans in the works to challenge any healthcare as un-Constitutional.

 

[Chris]

Let me put it to you this way Chris this healthcare your seeking from the Federal Govt. will have too survive many many challenges before it becomes a reality. Not the least of which is passing congress and the President placing his signature on the bill. This bill must survive state laws that may prohibit it's implementation and constitutional challenges as well as individuals downright ignoring it. So before you start dancing in the streets over the new social nirvana that your party is attempting to create here I'd advise you to temper that a little. I'm sure after all the Seniors get wind of what this bill has in store for them that this new agenda you and other wish to push off on the nation that they might find Obama's version of healthcare that wants them to all just die is not something they will find acceptable.

More lies from the right.

A single payer healthcare system is the most efficient and the most fair. That is why every other industrialized nation has a single payer system, and they pay HALF per capita what we pay for healthcare, and get as good or better results. Those are the facts.

For profit healthcare is morally wrong. Pure and simple.

 

[elvis]

Let me put it to you this way Chris this healthcare your seeking from the Federal Govt. will have too survive many many challenges before it becomes a reality. Not the least of which is passing congress and the President placing his signature on the bill. This bill must survive state laws that may prohibit it's implementation and constitutional challenges as well as individuals downright ignoring it. So before you start dancing in the streets over the new social nirvana that your party is attempting to create here I'd advise you to temper that a little. I'm sure after all the Seniors get wind of what this bill has in store for them that this new agenda you and other wish to push off on the nation that they might find Obama's version of healthcare that wants them to all just die is not something they will find acceptable.

More lies from the right.

A single payer healthcare system is the most efficient and the most fair. That is why every other industrialized nation has a single payer system, and they pay HALF per capita what we pay for healthcare, and get as good or better results. Those are the facts.

For profit healthcare is morally wrong. Pure and simple.

spoken like a true Marxist. fuck off, asshole.

 

[Chris]

I am satisfied with the treatment I get through the Veterans administration.

But I am informed by fellow vets who have recieved care in places other than Maine, that some Vets hospitals are a mess while others are provide excellent care.

One thing I can say with the benefit of my personal experience is that the care I recived at my VA is as good as any I have ever gotten in a private hospital or from a private MD.

The people in France, Italy, Belguim, Canada, Spain, and all the other Western democracies feel the same way about their single payer systems.

The only people who don't get it are the fools in America on the right.

 

[Oddball]

Let me put it to you this way Chris this healthcare your seeking from the Federal Govt. will have too survive many many challenges before it becomes a reality. Not the least of which is passing congress and the President placing his signature on the bill. This bill must survive state laws that may prohibit it's implementation and constitutional challenges as well as individuals downright ignoring it. So before you start dancing in the streets over the new social nirvana that your party is attempting to create here I'd advise you to temper that a little. I'm sure after all the Seniors get wind of what this bill has in store for them that this new agenda you and other wish to push off on the nation that they might find Obama's version of healthcare that wants them to all just die is not something they will find acceptable.

More lies from the right.

A single payer healthcare system is the most efficient and the most fair. That is why every other industrialized nation has a single payer system, and they pay HALF per capita what we pay for healthcare, and get as good or better results. Those are the facts.

For profit healthcare is morally wrong. Pure and simple.

More empty plattitudes-as-proof from the OP who got his ass pwned by girl smart enough to read the article!!