1 post tagged “malpractice”

After today, it's what I think I'll refer to the health care system as, especially in Frederick, Maryland.

So, first I go to my usual Urgent care: I've got a back and abdominal pain, that feels like gallbladder, except I had that removed. The wait there was over three hours. I went back then next day. The wait was three hours. Today, I took off work, figuring that thelines wouldn't be so long on a workday. Wrong. Three hours. So, unable to handle the wait, i went to "Immediate care' which is the public health version of Urgent care. I wait for an hour. I finally see a nurse who doesn't know what's wrong with me, and has no equipment to find out. So, I'm sent to the Emergency Room. I have a bad feeling about this. After waiting for over an hour, during which time I watch a man have a heart attack, and a young lady's appendix burst, while they are waiting to be seen, I give up. I tell 'em that I'm either going to go to Virginia, or I'll show up to the ER at 3 AM, with my own burst appendix. But, unsatisfied, i drive over to my primary care physician, the guy who I know ain't the best, but might be able to see me. I now have an appointment to see him tomorrow. I'm pretty sure he's just going to order a catscan, and I'll find out in a week or more whether I'm going to live or die. in the meantime, I'm still in pain, still untreated.

I am middle class, with insurance. Go on, tell me that health care works in America. When I was in a third world nation, I could see a specialist within minutes of a problem developing. In Europe, the same deal. Our system is malpractice. Flat out malpractice. Our health care system will kill people. Whether by not getting the care they need, or by exposing them to hazardous chemicals, or by treating them improperly. All of this happens frequently.

But, do whatever you have to do: just get to a research hospital, like Hopkins. That's the only way you'll get any care at all.