Posts by Aaron Hill44

Angela Wright, let me be perfectly clear: I am not your friend, nor has your association provided me with even a shred of value. Consequently, I have absolutely no intention of revisiting this discussion.
By all means, feel free to continue basking in the glow of your own self-congratulation.

I have absolutely zero interest in getting bogged into some petty back-and-forth or playing philosopher, but I feel compelled to state that Ivanka Trump and certain activists are nothing more than spinning fairy tales.
In this country, everyone fancies themselves an expert. It’s a total myth that patients just sit there in silence; our news outlets and TV networks are constantly saturated with these stories, yet the healthcare system hasn't improved one bit because of them—and frankly, it isn't going to.
I’ve spent far too much time wrestling with the American medical establishment to be fooled by how it actually functions. It honestly sickens me to hear these narratives about people who finally secured the care they deserved only by fighting through some advocacy group, implying that everyone else is somehow too passive to merit better treatment. I know how to fight my own battles, so I don't need an association to hold my hand, and when it comes to this rotting healthcare system, let's be real: no amount of organized advocacy has moved the needle at all.

slyseal28 said:I couldn't agree more. For instance, over the last month, they’ve been calling families to tell them they’re stuck on a waiting list for radiation and asking if there’s anything we can do to help. But the moment we suggest either walking away from the treatment entirely or taking the matter directly to the Head of Oncology to lodge a formal complaint, they just shut down. What are we supposed to do? Honestly, I’ve become somewhat numb to the whole thing, which is a terrifying realization... 👎

Does anyone actually believe that the administrators in our hospitals are oblivious to how long people are waiting for radiation, surgery, or basic diagnostic screenings?! It isn't true that the issue lies solely with patients who are too intimidated to speak up; the problem is significantly more systemic and far more sinister—it’s a corrupt infrastructure.
I filed an initial verbal complaint and followed it up with a formal written one regarding my own radiation appointment, yet it was utterly futile. The only explanation I received was the standard line about "more urgent cases" taking priority, all while I sat there waiting for three months. Three months! Let that sink in.
The entire waiting list system exists precisely so the healthcare industry can operate on a foundation of bribery and nepotism. If you have the right connections, you can bypass every single queue at the hospital instantly; if you have the cash, you simply opt for private care. In short, everyone understands how the game is played.
On one side, we are trapped within a corrupt system; on the other, we have patients desperately trying to navigate the wreckage, alongside an increasing number of advocacy groups that lack the actual leverage to effect meaningful change. In fact, some of these organizations inadvertently reinforce the status quo by merely performing busywork.

Things will continue to spiral downward until the entire system inevitably collapses under its own weight. Until then, it’s every man for himself.

Maria Fox said:I have a question—I’m hoping someone can help me coordinate this.
My mother needs a mammogram, an ultrasound, and an abdominal ultrasound. She is currently undergoing treatment at the Mayo Clinic (for colon cancer) and they handle most of her testing there.
Among other things, she was advised to get a mammogram every year, but when she tried to schedule it, they told her it was too early. Now that she’s actually shown up, they’re telling her there are no openings until next year, even though her follow-up should be in November.
What I really need to know is where in Washington, D.C. can we get both a mammogram and an ultrasound covered by Medicare?
We have already called:
Nemet, Diagnostic Institute 2000, and Johns Hopkins Hospital—all rejected us.
We haven't been able to reach Siget, Laginja, Albahari, or St. Jude's (we just get the secretary).
The people answering the phones told us to just show up with a referral and they would "see if there's space."😕

Try checking in Beverly Hills or maybe at St. Jude's; you might have better luck, though the bureaucracy is likely identical everywhere. They mentioned that a mammogram can sometimes be done without a referral at Johns Hopkins Hospital located at 16 Park Avenue as part of their preventive screenings; try calling them at 4696-309 to get the specifics.
If you happen to have a connection at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, you could probably get all these tests done as soon as tomorrow—I'm speaking from personal experience here. There is no point in complaining to anyone, least of all the Department of Health and Human Services, because they are the ones who architected this corrupt system. Complaining to them is a pure waste of time and sanity, and I know that firsthand. Unfortunately, despite all the empty rhetoric regarding patient rights, the situation seems to deteriorate further every single day.