Both hubby and I were sick beginning three weeks ago. I blamed it on “Con Crude” for him and allergies for me. He was snotty and had a deep cough so he visited his primary care physician to get antibiotics. I suffered through a drippy nose; I refused to go see my pcp. Our house was covered in cough drop wrappers and tissue boxes! We have now been cough and tissue free for two weeks.
Since I work in the business aspect of healthcare, I am a cheerleader for our local hospital, clinics, and pharmacies – my doctors and clinical staff do an excellent job!!
My Healthcare Rant:
- When I have a sore throat or have got into poison ivy (again), I would like to be able to call my physician’s office and simply have an antibiotic or steroid prescribed. Why do I have to leave work or my bed, sit in a waiting area, have my vitals taken, and then see my doctor for a simple prescription? Do not say money. I would happily pay for this convinence. Have a rule that a patient can only do this once within a set time period and only for certain ailments, otherwise people will try to abuse it. Bonus side effect could be doctors’ having more time in their work day to see truly sick patients.
- Some basic tests are too expensive given how frequently they are ordered and how helpful they are for doctors when diagnosising. If a CBC [complete blood count] can be run for a “special price” at a health fair, then it could be that special price plus five dollars all the time.
- You must take responsibilty for your health. Doctors are a tool to help. There are no magic pills. Help your doctors when and where you can. If you have gastric reflux, do not eat pizza for dinner and expect a painfree night of sleep. Twenty plus years of healthcare from my viewpoint has taught me – drink more water, eat fresh veggies, and be more active. Actually, I think drinking water might be magic!!
- In general, stop visiting the Emergency Room for headaches, sore throats, fever, or low back pain. Blood exiting the body or you being able to see bone is one hundred percent an emergency! If you had a condition for more than forty-eight hours, then it is not an emergency. Try to heal yourself and your children. Take a Tylonel or an Aleve for pain and fever. Use a heating pad or heat a towel to lay on for muscle pain. Drink a hot toddy or something warm with honey to soothe a raw throat. Try two things before calling your doctor.
- Doctors sometimes order too many tests.
That is all my rant for now.