Abby is gone.
What more can I say?
Sad. It's pathetic that I feel a deep sense of loss when my favorite character leaves. It's a TV show damn it! A TV show!
I loved it when she told off the new Mrs. Mean. I think I was partially aroused.
As far as medical care given, I was so distracted by the thought that this would be the last time I would see Abby that I forgive them for any and all mistakes they made.
Sigh....................
Wine. I need vino.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Let Us Discuss............... Universal Health Care
There is a discussion going on in a Mom's forum I belong to regarding Universal Health Care (UHC). I am being called an asshole and repugnant because I don't believe in UHC. Let's discuss this issue because I honestly want to know why people think it should be a Constitutional Right to have health care.
Here are my points:
I believe we should have universal EMERGENCY coverage for truly emergent situations. I believe we should have coverage for children for preventative care (well child checks, etc) and illness/injury. I do not believe that we should have total coverage for general health care for all adults. I do not believe that this is a RIGHT.
I have seen government run programs (Can anyone say Oregon Health Plan?) that are so completely mismanaged and are more of a hinder to health care than anything else. They have created a healthcare environment that promotes ER visits for non emergent reasons. And even though the patients have to sign a waiver to agree to pay if OHP does not pick up the bill, this doesn't happen. Our ER budget this year showed a tremendous loss of revenue related to this issue (as does every ER in the nation - ER's are pretty much always loss leaders in relation to this). Remember people - we cannot refuse to see anyone no matter what the reason. Now after a medical screening exam we can tell them their situation is non emergent and recommend follow up with a primary physician. Most won't follow up anyway, and we've just wasted 1 to 2 hours of ER flow time because of this. Therefore we have delayed care for someone else who is truly emergent and we have the need for additional staffing to tell people they don't need to be in the ER. And people wonder why medical costs are so high.
Next, I have seen time and time again, people that do NOT follow their physician's recommendations for care of their condition (think diabetes, congestive heart failure, etc.). Should we still help them when they are in a crisis? Absolutely. But we should not pay for their medical visits at a clinic if they are not willing to be cooperative with their medical care. Yes I know there are case by case situations where this may not apply (quacky docs, new therapies, etc), but I'm referring to an in general population.
I do not believe that our current system works, but I also do not believe that UHC is the answer either. Someone told me that Germany has a program where everyone is guaranteed emergency treatment and they have the option to buy into higher level plans if they so desire (does anyone know if this is true?). I think this sounds like a great option. As long as they are NOT government run.
I do believe everyone deserves good medical care - absolutely. I just do not believe that the government should foot the bill.
Let us discuss..................
Here are my points:
I believe we should have universal EMERGENCY coverage for truly emergent situations. I believe we should have coverage for children for preventative care (well child checks, etc) and illness/injury. I do not believe that we should have total coverage for general health care for all adults. I do not believe that this is a RIGHT.
I have seen government run programs (Can anyone say Oregon Health Plan?) that are so completely mismanaged and are more of a hinder to health care than anything else. They have created a healthcare environment that promotes ER visits for non emergent reasons. And even though the patients have to sign a waiver to agree to pay if OHP does not pick up the bill, this doesn't happen. Our ER budget this year showed a tremendous loss of revenue related to this issue (as does every ER in the nation - ER's are pretty much always loss leaders in relation to this). Remember people - we cannot refuse to see anyone no matter what the reason. Now after a medical screening exam we can tell them their situation is non emergent and recommend follow up with a primary physician. Most won't follow up anyway, and we've just wasted 1 to 2 hours of ER flow time because of this. Therefore we have delayed care for someone else who is truly emergent and we have the need for additional staffing to tell people they don't need to be in the ER. And people wonder why medical costs are so high.
Next, I have seen time and time again, people that do NOT follow their physician's recommendations for care of their condition (think diabetes, congestive heart failure, etc.). Should we still help them when they are in a crisis? Absolutely. But we should not pay for their medical visits at a clinic if they are not willing to be cooperative with their medical care. Yes I know there are case by case situations where this may not apply (quacky docs, new therapies, etc), but I'm referring to an in general population.
I do not believe that our current system works, but I also do not believe that UHC is the answer either. Someone told me that Germany has a program where everyone is guaranteed emergency treatment and they have the option to buy into higher level plans if they so desire (does anyone know if this is true?). I think this sounds like a great option. As long as they are NOT government run.
I do believe everyone deserves good medical care - absolutely. I just do not believe that the government should foot the bill.
Let us discuss..................
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
ER on NBC 2nd Show, Last season
So I'm a few days late on this one. Sue me. No not really - I don't have anything that you'd want anyway. You can go ahead and take my debt on if you'd like to though (A double mortgage and some over extended credit cards because apparently Santa believes in over buying for my kids).
My man was bustin' my balls tonight because I hadn't posted anything about the last episode of ER. Like I have to obey him. Pashaw. There's no ring on this finger. But alas, I cannot disappoint my 3 other readers.
One of the only things that still sticks out in my mind is the asthma kid that was stuck in the room with the cooky ass Ricen man. When arrogant entitled med student hoochie mama was taking care of him, he HAD NO OXYGEN ON! When Dr Sexy John Stamos told her to turn it up to 15L she said something like "I did" but the patient had no oxygen in place. Then presto! Next scene, oxygen mask on. I love the magic of TV. You can get anything you want by just blinking your eyes and requesting a scene change.
Now onto Mrs. Angry New ER Manager. Obviously she's lost someone in her family. Is there a connection to Pratt? I couldn't find anything online in the spoilers, but something smells funny in the kitchen. And Morris - yeehaw! Good for you for letting loose. Of course, I don't know that it's a great way to endear yourself to your new boss, but hey - whatever works for you.
So tomorrow night Abby leaves. WTF? Can't she stay until the end of the season? She rocks. Well, maybe not so much lately with the nights of alcohol fueled sex with coworkers and irrational arguments with spouse, but she used to rock. A med student told me once that I reminded him of Abby - I'm not so sure that's a compliment anymore. Of course, she was still a nurse then so it was during her time of uber coolness.
Well off to work for the next 2 days then riding 4 wheelers all day Saturday. Maybe I'll be a patient in my own ER. It'd be just like TV! I could be improperly immobilized, not have my oxygen on, an IV that goes nowhere, and a partridge in a pear tree.
My man was bustin' my balls tonight because I hadn't posted anything about the last episode of ER. Like I have to obey him. Pashaw. There's no ring on this finger. But alas, I cannot disappoint my 3 other readers.
One of the only things that still sticks out in my mind is the asthma kid that was stuck in the room with the cooky ass Ricen man. When arrogant entitled med student hoochie mama was taking care of him, he HAD NO OXYGEN ON! When Dr Sexy John Stamos told her to turn it up to 15L she said something like "I did" but the patient had no oxygen in place. Then presto! Next scene, oxygen mask on. I love the magic of TV. You can get anything you want by just blinking your eyes and requesting a scene change.
Now onto Mrs. Angry New ER Manager. Obviously she's lost someone in her family. Is there a connection to Pratt? I couldn't find anything online in the spoilers, but something smells funny in the kitchen. And Morris - yeehaw! Good for you for letting loose. Of course, I don't know that it's a great way to endear yourself to your new boss, but hey - whatever works for you.
So tomorrow night Abby leaves. WTF? Can't she stay until the end of the season? She rocks. Well, maybe not so much lately with the nights of alcohol fueled sex with coworkers and irrational arguments with spouse, but she used to rock. A med student told me once that I reminded him of Abby - I'm not so sure that's a compliment anymore. Of course, she was still a nurse then so it was during her time of uber coolness.
Well off to work for the next 2 days then riding 4 wheelers all day Saturday. Maybe I'll be a patient in my own ER. It'd be just like TV! I could be improperly immobilized, not have my oxygen on, an IV that goes nowhere, and a partridge in a pear tree.
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