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Healthcare in America

Started by rapidlynx78 · · 👁 5 views · 17 replies

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Participants rapidlynx78Casey Palmer5Kate Collins67lonemarlin77silverpuma542melloworca6feralharbor89Angela Wrightfadedheron892
rapidlynx78 rapidlynx78 NewcomerOP
2 messages
joined Dec 2021
#1 ·
I’m not sure if this belongs here or in the Health section, so moderators, please move it if I’m in the wrong spot.
I urgently need to see a specific doctor at the Holy Spirit hospital. This doctor only sees patients at his clinic one day a week 😲 which felt a little odd to me, but I figured he probably covers shifts on the other days. I had an appointment last Monday, showed up, and waited an hour just for a nurse to tell me he wasn't there because of a death in the family—told me to come back next Monday. So, I hopped back up there again this morning (missing work both times, obviously), only to find out the guy isn't there again because he’s lecturing at the University in Memphis today. 😠 Honestly, hearing that made me want to bite his head off, and the entire Department of Health and Human Services for letting this slide. I pay a decent amount for my health insurance, yet when I actually need care, I can't get it because this guy is moonlighting elsewhere 🙂 while drawing a full salary here. If I missed a day at my job to go handle some side hustle, I’d be out on the street in a heartbeat. Imagine how messy things would be if everyone acted this nonchalant at their jobs. So, now I have to miss work a third Monday in a row, hoping he finally shows up.
Is it even legal for a doctor to moonlight like this without any consequences? Who can I actually file a complaint with, or is this just how the system works in this country now? 🤷
Casey Palmer5 Casey Palmer5 Regular
470 messages
joined Jan 2016
#2 ·
No, it’s definitely not normal. Welcome to the system...
Kate Collins67 Kate Collins67 Active Member
168 messages
joined Apr 2010
#3 ·
To looks like a totally common occurrence to me—and honestly, they’re supposed to be "normal" by definition, aren't they?
lonemarlin77 lonemarlin77 Newcomer
1 message
joined Apr 2010
#4 ·
rapidlynx78 said:I was just wondering if it’s actually considered normal for a doctor to be totally slacking off instead of actually doing their job at the clinic without facing any consequences, or if there's somewhere I could officially file a complaint, or maybe this is just how the whole healthcare system works in this country now 🤷

It is absolutely normal, unfortunately...
It honestly hurts my feelings a little bit when I mention that I'm a nurse and someone
decides to tell me, oh, you all work for the government—as if we aren't out here working our tails off🤷

In my opinion, this whole trend of people criticizing the medical profession is actually quite
justified, though I really think it applies specifically to the doctors. It feels like they are
the ones who spend most of their shift basically sleeping on the job, or messing around, or just sitting there
drinking coffee and chatting... you know the drill. I've personally seen poor patients who wait days
for an appointment they scheduled, only to find the doctor is unavailable every single day because,
well, you can probably guess—they're just cutting corners. Our healthcare system is truly in a sad state
and, as usual, it's the everyday person who suffers the most, because I've noticed that whenever
some "high society" type walks into my ward, everyone starts scrambling to please them
just because that doctor is going to end up getting some gift bag filled with fancy coffee and sweets later on...
Oh, my poor America...
silverpuma542 silverpuma542 Member
34 messages
joined Oct 2008
#5 ·
rapidlynx78 said:I’m honestly wondering if it’s even considered normal anymore when a doctor decides to go rogue and practice "off the books" instead of actually being at their assigned post. It feels totally unprofessional, yet there seem to be zero consequences for it. Does anyone know who I should actually file a formal complaint with, or is this just the "new normal" for how the healthcare system operates in this country? 🤷

http://www.hhs.gov/contact/patient-complaints
melloworca6 melloworca6 Regular
551 messages
joined May 2010
#6 ·
lonemarlin77 said:It’s completely normal. Unfortunately..
It really gets under my skin when I mention I’m a nurse and someone
implies we’re all just on the government payroll—as if we aren't actually working.🤷

The trend of bashing medical professionals is, in my opinion, totally
justified, but that applies strictly to doctors. They’re the ones who
basically sleep on the job, slack off, or just sit around drinking
coffee..etc. I’ve seen poor people waiting days
for a scheduled appointment, only for the doctor to be unavailable every single day, because
well, you can guess—they're just hacks. This healthcare system is pathetic
and it always hits the little guy hardest. You know, when "important people"
show up at my unit, everyone scrambles to please them
just because the doctor is going to get some gift bag filled with coffee and sweets..
God, my poor America...

Sure, there are nurses who slack off, it's just that other nurses end up picking up their slack, so you don't notice it as much. 🙂 There are even fewer doctors than nurses, so when one of them starts slacking, you definitely feel the impact.
lonemarlin77 lonemarlin77 Newcomer
1 message
joined Apr 2010
#7 ·
melloworca6 said:You’ve definitely got nurses who aren't quite up to speed, but honestly, their coworkers usually just jump in and pick up the slack, so you don't always notice the gap. 🙂When it comes to doctors, though, there are way fewer of them than nurses, so when one of them drops the ball, it’s impossible to miss.

That is so true. And have you ever really thought about how much work nurses end up doing that should actually be handled by doctors?
Like, imagine you're in the middle of a critical emergency, maybe a patient is miscarrying, and suddenly the doctor's phone rings and he has to step away to take the call, leaving a senior
nurse (not even a supervisor, just an experienced nurse) to just step in and handle everything themselves...
There is so much of that happening, goodness me...
And don't even get me started on the interns; they are basically the unpaid heavy lifters of the entire hospital system.

It’s honestly just exploitation, plain and simple.
rapidlynx78 rapidlynx78 NewcomerOP
2 messages
joined Dec 2021
#8 ·
lonemarlin77, I’m so glad you reached out. I don't think nurses have it easy at all—honestly, I think their job is incredibly demanding. 😉
It’s just awful having to stand there in front of a waiting room full of sick, frustrated people and tell them the doctor simply didn't show up. 😠I feel like you end up taking the heat for those arrogant, irresponsible people who, unfortunately, hold our lives in their hands.
I actually called the department head's secretary to ask how this could even happen, and she just told me they know about the issue but aren't sure how to fix it. What's worse? She suggested I call the nurses late Friday afternoon to see if the doctor left a note saying he wouldn't be in Monday... as if I shouldn't have wasted my trip already. 😕
I really don't get why doctors can't be fired if they skip work for weeks at a time. 🤷
melloworca6 melloworca6 Regular
551 messages
joined May 2010
#9 ·
lonemarlin77 said:Facts. And you have no idea how many nurses end up doing the actual work doctors are supposed to be handling.
When someone’s having a miscarriage and the phone rings, and some doctor just walks off to go deal with that instead, a veteran
nurse (not even a head nurse) just steps in and finishes the job...
It happens all the time, man.
And don't even get me started on the interns. They're basically unpaid manual labor for the hospital.

It’s exploitation, plain and simple.

I know how the whole healthcare system works; I have a registered nurse in my family. 🙂 And unfortunately, I know it from firsthand experience too, since I'm constantly running through hospitals for checkups. There are amazing people in there—nurses and doctors alike—but yeah, there’s also plenty of garbage. Just like any other profession. 🙂
lonemarlin77 lonemarlin77 Newcomer
1 message
joined Apr 2010
#10 ·
rapidlynx78 said:lonemarlin77, I’m honestly so glad you spoke up because I don't think for one second that nurses are just sitting around doing nothing; if anything, I think it's an incredibly demanding job.😉
I mean, I can only imagine how exhausting it is to walk out in front of a waiting room full of sick, frustrated people just to tell them the doctor didn't show up for his shift again.😠 I truly believe you often end up catching the brunt of everyone's anger—even when you've done nothing wrong—just because of those arrogant, irresponsible types who, unfortunately, hold our lives in their hands.
I actually called the head of the department's secretary to ask how on earth this is allowed to happen, and she just told me they're already aware of the issue but haven't figured out how to fix it yet. Which, honestly, makes it even worse, because then she suggested I call the nurses at the end of the day on Friday just to check if the doctor happened to leave a note saying he won't be there Monday either, as if I shouldn't be making the trip for nothing in the first place.😕
I really don't understand why there isn't a way to actually fire doctors if they skip work for weeks at a time.🤷

Everything you said is spot on.
It is just plain awful when nurses are forced to take on the worst part of the job—
having to break the news to a patient who has shown up five days in a row that the doctor isn't available again.
Then the floodgates open with comments like, "What are we even paying you for?", "You people are useless," or "Absolute crooks,"
and so on.
And then you have doctors sleeping through the night shift, and if a pregnant woman happens to come in
already four or five centimeters dilated, they aren't even supposed to wake him up.🙂
But they'll certainly never face any disciplinary action or lose their jobs.

melloworca6 said:I know exactly how things operate within the healthcare system, since I have a nurse in my family.🙂 And unfortunately, I also know from my own experience while going in for various hospital checkups. There are some truly wonderful people, both nurses and doctors, but of course, there's also some real garbage out there, just like in any other profession.🙂

I agree, there are good doctors and bad ones, just like there are good and bad nurses.
You really can't generalize everyone.
melloworca6 melloworca6 Regular
551 messages
joined May 2010
#11 ·
The state of healthcare in this country is an absolute joke. It couldn't get any worse if they tried.

Alright, let’s hear it. What would you guys actually do if your primary care physician started screaming at you and losing their mind?

It happened to my girlfriend recently. She hasn't been feeling well, so she's had to make more frequent trips to the clinic lately. On top of the usual throat, ear, and sinus infections, it looks like she’s dealing with some vascular issues now too. And instead of helping, this doctor just lost it on her—acting like it's her fault for even seeking care.
feralharbor89 feralharbor89 Member
41 messages
joined Sep 2011
#12 ·
It is high time to find a new doctor!
I remember one particular instance where a substitute physician extended my medical leave, and instead of being helpful, a nurse took out some white-out on the paperwork and started aggressively ranting at me about how things don't work that way and how people like me were going to get her paycheck docked... all while I was dealing with a fever that they couldn't figure out the cause of for over a month.
Even though people suggested I should file a formal grievance with a review board, I just gathered my things without saying a word (which, looking back, I honestly regret not doing) and went to find a different doctor to take my medical files to. When you're in a place where they label you a malingerer instead of actually treating you—because clearly, many people there simply don't know their jobs—and where nurses are "cutting" patients' leave and feeling entitled to use such a rude tone, there really isn't much point in asking for anything from them.
melloworca6 melloworca6 Regular
551 messages
joined May 2010
#13 ·
I told her straight up: next time, report that woman directly to the hospital administrator. Tell her there’s a dedicated hotline specifically for filing complaints about stuff like this.
Look, we all have bad days—we’re only human—but screaming at patients? That's a non-starter. It’s completely unacceptable. She didn't show up because she enjoys the view or because she felt like sprinting from work just to see her; she showed up because she was genuinely unwell. Instead of helping someone who was sick and scared, the doctor just lost it on her, barking about what she wanted.

If I were in her shoes, I’d make a huge scene. Honestly. I know firsthand what it’s like dealing with an incompetent primary care physician. I stayed away from the doctor for years, and when I finally went in because I actually needed help—my joints were aching and my fingers were turning blue and pale—she just tried to play games with my referrals. 👎 If it hadn't been for my former doctor, I probably wouldn't be dealing with any of the diagnoses I have today, let alone several of them.
Angela Wright Angela Wright Regular
731 messages
joined Feb 2007
#14 ·
melloworca6 said:The state of our healthcare system is a total disaster.

Seriously, everyone, tell me: what would you actually do if your primary care doctor started screaming at you and treating you like garbage?

It happened to my girlfriend just the other day. She hasn't been feeling well, so she’s been seeing her doctor quite a bit lately. On top of the usual throat, ear, and sinus infections, it looks like she's dealing with some vascular issues now too. And this doctor just lost it on her, snapping about what she expects from her.

And let me ask you this: what would you do if, God forbid, your child had a malignant illness, and for three months straight, you were stuck in a hospital bed with zero clarity on the diagnosis or the treatment plan? What if you couldn't catch a single physician for a consultation, and you finally had to corner one just to get answers to questions you have every right to ask—only for them to hiss through their teeth:
"Stop ambushing me like terrorists in the middle of the street! Leave me alone! I'm busy treating kids who can actually be saved!"
Look, we are all part of this broken machine. This system is exactly what we allowed it to become, and we aren't doing a damn thing to fix it. In plain English, we are living through the consequences of our own collective passivity and inertia.
melloworca6 melloworca6 Regular
551 messages
joined May 2010
#15 ·
I think I remember seeing somewhere that you’d posted before. Honestly, what can I say? That guy is absolute trash. 👎

But that’s why you have to report stuff like this—if you need to file a lawsuit, then do it.

I actually have a recent example from my neck of the woods regarding medical malpractice. A guy I know had an inflamed appendix, so they rushed him into emergency surgery. Then, two days later, they just discharged him. 😲 He started feeling terrible, ran a fever, and his family had to rush him back to the hospital. Turns out he had over a liter of blood pooling in his abdominal cavity because he was hemorrhaging somewhere; he barely made it, or he would've died.
Then he finds out that same doctor messed up a case recently where someone actually died. Apparently, the previous victims didn't sue, and it looks like this guy won't either. It'll be a shocker when that doctor screws someone else over again.
fadedheron892 fadedheron892 Active Member
57 messages
joined Nov 2009
#16 ·
melloworca6 said:The state of our healthcare system is an absolute joke right now.

Seriously though, tell me what you guys would even do if your own primary care doctor started screaming at you and treating you like garbage?

Honestly, it’s not even surprising anymore because I dealt with something just as nasty today from a nurse over at Mayo Clinic where I had my surgery, and I’m still reeling from it—she basically snapped at me saying, "It's always something with you."

And don't even get me started on trying to actually see my surgeon; you'd probably need a direct line to a satellite just to get an appointment, unless you want to shell out a fortune for a private consultation.
Angela Wright Angela Wright Regular
731 messages
joined Feb 2007
#17 ·
melloworca6 said:I think I remember seeing you write about this somewhere. Honestly, what can I say? That woman is absolute trash. 👎

That’s exactly why people need to report this kind of behavior—you have to be willing to take legal action if necessary.

It isn't quite that black and white. We are facing a chronic shortage of doctors across the country, especially specialists. In this case, we're talking about a pediatric oncologist. Even if she happens to be a terrible human being, she is still the one treating those kids. As for the legal system? It doesn't work that way. She’ll likely keep her job, while the family might lose out on crucial support services. You have to ask yourself: what is the actual point of winning a lawsuit if the child loses their life in the process?
melloworca6 melloworca6 Regular
551 messages
joined May 2010
#18 ·
You're right, we have a chronic shortage of doctors too. But honestly, how many people actually have to die before anyone decides to take action? 😢

Take what happened back at Mayo Clinic in their OB-GYN department a few years ago—it was a total scandal. Three doctors were involved in the deaths of two pregnant women. Some were convicted and got probation, yet they’re still out there practicing. And then, to top it all off, another woman died under one of their care right after.

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