Why are medical costs so high?
Well, I got a call this morning from my Doctor's office. I didn't talk with them, my wife did.
"Haven't seen "what his name" for a while, scheduling some blood work for him."
Now, my present Doctor really doesn't know me from Adam. If I bumped in to her on the street I am almost sure she would not recognize me. And, I am not sure I would recognize her, even though I have had a heart attack, triple bi-pass, etc., I don't think I ever saw her during that time, always other Doctors.
Whatever happened to going to the Doctor when you were sick. Computers for one thing.
My guess is that some expensive equipment in the lab has a payment coming up and they are pursuing every avenue to come up with "Medicare" money, or any other means available.
"Get on that computer, Grace, we've got to come up with 200 thousand by the end of the month to make a payment on the LB2000-1, whatever that is. Get some blood tests in here!"
My old Doctor never called me up, when I was sick, I went to him. I think he got tired of it all and retired at early age.
My Dad, the Doctor, a GP with home and office together for a great deal of his career, made house calls, had open office hours, and if someone went to the hospital, THEY were sick or needed an operation, not to get a splinter out of a finger.
I remember one afternoon a Mother brought her little son to Dad's office, came on the Brown Street bus, WITH a chamber pot (a rather big pot kept under the bed for late night calls) stuck on his head. He put it on, and it wouldn't come off. She took her child, with pot on head, walked to the bus stop, got on the bus, got off at our corner, walked that kid into the office.
As I recall, Dad used a hammer and got it off, rather quickly.
No panic, no emergency squad, no fire department, just get on the bus and head for Doc's.
Now, I have to go to the hospital, give blood, in about a week after that, the Doctor will call, wants to see me to go over results. "Hey, for 78, you're blood is pretty good. Oh, here, take this with you, put a stool sample in there, mail it, and I will have you back in a few weeks to go over those results. Oh, and pay as you leave, and we'll bill Medicare for the rest. Good seeing you again Bill."
"My name is Joe."
"Oh, whatever, next."
