Need help from rf.net for next Weird Medicine Show

[Dr Steve]

The next Weird Medicine prerecorded show will be Oct 25th at 8pm Eastern. Since this will be a pre-election show and we're not live as we hoped to be (stupid pre-emption schedule!), I'm trying to think of how we can get some public opinion on the election and its impact on healthcare.

With the economy and the war, healthcare has been hardly mentioned during this election. Without frontloading you with my own biases, I'd be interested in any opinions rf.net members have on how they feel the election will impact their health and healthcare delivery. Also, what you would want from a healthcare system in this country. And if you're from Canada, what we should look to adopt or avoid, if we were using the Canadian system as a benchmark.

Also, I need volunteers to prerecord some medical questions for the show. PM me if you're interested.

your pal,


steve

[King Hippos Bandaid]

I agree with "that one"

[drjoek]

I am available to cohost. Weird Medicine and Dentistry

[oldladyfacepuncher]

I don't think either one will do anything to reform health care. It's promised every election and nothing ever happens. I think insurance companies will finally have to accept that preventative medicine is better business (which means going up against the drug companies) before we see any changes.

As far as what I want: 1) No discrimination based on genetics 2) Reward people with healthy lifestyles 3) More focus on prevention

I don't have health insurance, but because I can't find a plan with a decent premium that has a co-pay for check-ups and routine doctor visits. What's the point of paying hundreds of dollars a month for a huge deductible, on a plan that won't even help me with a basic check-up. I put that would be premium in the bank and hope for the best.

I'd love to give my employees health care benefits too, but a good plan is just too expensive on either side.

Part of the problem is location. We just don't have the options you guys in urban areas have, which means we're stuck with indemnity plans, instead of PPOs and HMOs.

I'm not sure how Japan works it, but health care is ridiculously cheap over there, even if you're a gaijin and not paying into the system. The drawback is people go to the hospital for everything. I waited for hours and hours to get my broken hand x-rayed, because people with runny noses need to see a doctor in order to get any decent medication--you can't get stuff like Nyquill off the shelf there.

[joethebartender]

I am available to cohost. Weird Medicine and Dentistry

Weird dentistry...

http://justelite.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/_dantistsweird10.jpg

[JPMNICK]

my main thing is a cap on punitive awards from medical mal-practice. I think these 50 million dollar law suits are insane. A tier based system based on the severity of the problem would be fine. It would keep lawyers out of it for the most part, and keep people from tryign to make a living by suing.

[JustJon]

Dr. Steve, have you considered broadcasting the recording of the show on a site like Ustream.com? That way people can tune in live and call you with their medical questions.

[Dr Steve]

Dr. Steve, have you considered broadcasting the recording of the show on a site like Ustream.com? That way people can tune in live and call you with their medical questions.


No, haven't heard of that! I'll check it out tonight. Probably can't work it out for this next one, but thanks for the heads-up!

The nice thing about doing the show from XM is I can pick the questions I know I can answer without a lot of on-air research. So the person calling about "Eaton-Lambert Syndrome" stays on hold for a long time while my wife prints me off some article on it so I can sound smart on the air, though still 90+% of the calls we get John and I wing it without help.

I'm not sure I could pull it off without a screener. I can just imagine the lunacy that would ensue. :smile:

[niciggy]

Hi Dr. Steve-I'm a military spouse. I've heard Biden kicking around the idea that everyone would be eligible for the same quality of health care he gets. I'm guessing it's the same that my husband gets, which I must say, is superb. However, as his family, we get HORRIBLE health care. We get a lot of push back, wait and see attitutde. I once had a doc say in front of me (he was training someone)...if this was an active duty member, I'd definitely swab for strep now, but since it's a spouse, I'll wait 3-5 days and see if she improves and then swab. I thought...'hello! I'm right here! in the same room!" They also use words like this: Tricare Prime, Tricare Standard, Tricare Extra. I am of the opinion that the standard plan is really the best, most accessible plan, but they want you to use Prime, so they make it sound like the best one.
That's just my 2 cents.
Nicole

[JustJon]

No, haven't heard of that! I'll check it out tonight. Probably can't work it out for this next one, but thanks for the heads-up!

The nice thing about doing the show from XM is I can pick the questions I know I can answer without a lot of on-air research. So the person calling about "Eaton-Lambert Syndrome" stays on hold for a long time while my wife prints me off some article on it so I can sound smart on the air, though still 90+% of the calls we get John and I wing it without help.

I'm not sure I could pull it off without a screener. I can just imagine the lunacy that would ensue. :smile:

Have you considered lining up the calls in advance? I'm not saying gimmick the questions, but pick the questions you like and see if the person who asked it would like to call you when you were planning to tape.