State of the healthcare system in America: Let's discuss why it's failing

Brandon Newman95 said:Look, I’ll just come out and admit it: I haven't stepped foot in a doctor's office in ten years. There, I said it. Let the judgment commence. Honestly, it was my own damn fault. I should have at least gone in once a year for basic blood work, but I skipped it. Now? Now I'm paying the price for that mistake, dealing with some neurotropic virus that basically dragged me through the ringer for a year and a half because I spent all my time bouncing from one specialist to another.
I'm with Angela Wright on this one. A good doctor really needs to be everything at once—partly your GP, partly your therapist, you know? I actually owe a huge thanks to my primary care doc and his nurse for keeping me sane.
And as for joining the European Union? Don't hold your breath. It's never going to happen. 😉

I feel like we'll end up joining the European Union eventually, one way or another... but honestly, it doesn't even change things for doctors right now. Our degrees are recognized all over Europe anyway, so you can head wherever you want regardless of the status, though having that official tie would definitely make life a little smoother... 🙂

Raymond Price4 said:1. A "healthy patient" is an oxymoron; if they're a patient, they're sick.
2. Sure, you treat the patient—the patient is the subject. The goal is to get a sick person better or improve their condition. It should be obvious to any doctor that you aren't just looking at a failing organ in isolation; you're looking at the person attached to it. The human being matters, and they actually care about being healthy—they aren't just a collection of parts.
3. Your whole tangent about social services is totally irrelevant. You're comparing apples to oranges here.

I honestly find it pretty sad to see a young, educated professional write something like this, reducing the medical profession to a kind of narrow-minded tunnel vision that lacks any sense of humanity.

Ah... what can I even say? Honestly, nothing. I just deleted a post that was half a page long because I’m just not in the mood to play philosopher today. I care about practical realities, so I'll leave this philosophical debate entirely up to you.

Brandon Newman95 said:Look, I’ll just come out and admit it: I haven't stepped foot in a doctor's office in ten years. There, I said it. Let the judgment commence. Honestly, it was my own damn fault. I should have at least gone in once a year for basic blood work, but I skipped it. Now? Now I'm paying the price for that mistake, dealing with some neurotropic virus that basically dragged me through the ringer for a year and a half because I spent all my time bouncing from one specialist to another.
I'm with Angela Wright on this one. A good doctor really needs to be everything at once—partly your GP, partly your therapist, you know? I actually owe a huge thanks to my primary care doc and his nurse for keeping me sane.
And as for joining the European Union? Don't hold your breath. It's never going to happen. 😉

The GP and the nurse should be the ones explaining what the specialist intended. Primary care can handle referrals to therapists when needed.
And the disorganized state of psychiatric care? It's an absolute joke.
After my surgery, nobody bothered to explain what happened to me during those six hours. They didn't tell me I had suddenly lost all my hormonal support or what steps I needed to take next. My gynecologist should have been the one to say it. I don't even know what he looks like. I transferred my records to a new doctor because the last one was incompetent, and now I only deal with the nurse because the doctor is too busy.
So, here is where I am left. Physically, everything is fine. Mentally? It's a disaster. My libido is okay, but the person I was before the surgery simply doesn't exist anymore. No one warned me this could happen. Am I just a rarity?

The reality is there is zero psychiatric support for women after surgery, regardless of why they had the procedure. There is no support for pregnant women or new mothers either. Postpartum shock caused by the procedures, episiotomies, and massive hormonal shifts is ignored. People just shrug and tell you the wound healed. That's it.
Psychiatric support should be integrated into every medical field. People need help. Not every specialist can be a psychiatrist, but psychiatry must be a component of every specialty in healthcare. That is what we are missing.

@ Lisbeth
So, what exactly is it that you do for a living?

@ ruggedscout91
When you're dealing with the kind of situations we're talking about here, you really need psychological support—the kind typically provided by a psychologist or a psychotherapist. Sure, some psychiatrists might dabble in psychotherapy, but let’s be real, that's primarily the domain of psychologists.
Psychiatrists focus on clinical "illnesses," whereas psychologists deal more with various types of disorders that aren't necessarily quite as severe—situations where the patient actually maintains some level of self-awareness and insight.
The problem is, our healthcare system is severely lacking in psychologists, so even for that kind of help, you're still going to have to shell out some serious cash.

Kate Collins67 said:Look, let’s get one thing straight—whether we're talking about my patients or yours, you're already making that distinction between "my people" and "your people," even though everyone should have equal rights to care. If everyone is being treated according to professional medical standards, there shouldn't be any "mine" or "yours." It shouldn't matter at what stage of treatment I encounter a person; I should just be picking up exactly where the previous doctor left off. But honestly? To actually pull that off, you'd need a massive amount of specialized knowledge, much higher quality medical schools, and a level of top-down organization that our current system just isn't providing.

So, you’re out here preaching that "we treat the patient, not just the disease"? That sounds great on a bumper sticker, really, but let me ask you something—are you actually treating healthy people now too? Because if we're following your logic, what exactly am I supposed to be doing? Am I expected to step in and fix my patients' social struggles? Should I be playing social worker or calling up agencies to handle their living situations? Or maybe I should be acting as an unlicensed therapist and calling in a psychologist to deal with their mental health issues? No. Absolutely not. My job is to treat the actual illness within the patient. For everything else—the social stuff, the psychological stuff, all those other layers—there are plenty of other trained professionals who do that job way better than I ever could, and frankly, I have zero intention of stepping out of my lane and getting tangled up in it.

Look, there are tons of patients out there who have been given incredibly clear, thorough explanations about exactly what’s wrong with them and precisely what steps they need to take to actually get better. But here's the kicker—most of them don't follow a single word of it. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? If we're being honest and looking at the big picture, why are we even wasting our breath? Why spend all this energy on these exhaustive, deep-dive explanations when they just fall on deaf ears? It feels like a total waste of time to go through the whole "educational" process if people aren't going to actually do the work.
It really just depends on the situation—who I’m even talking to, honestly. Some people just aren't worth the breath, you know? So, I guess it comes down to who I’ll actually bother trying to explain things to and, more importantly, who I won't.

1. That is absolutely wrong. That mindset treats patients like machines rather than human beings. You, of all people, should know that in medicine, 2 plus 2 doesn't always equal 4 like it does in mechanics. Yes, protocols exist, but every human being is a unique organism that reacts differently to the same set of rules. Standardized medicine doesn't ignore individuality; it just provides guidelines for treatment, not guaranteed reactions. But actually providing an individualized approach takes a hell of a lot more knowledge.
And if you have a patient who isn't responding to the standard protocol (which happens about 90% of the time), how exactly are you supposed to just "pick up where someone else left off"?

2. I wasn't talking about that. I was saying that every tumor, heart attack, or case of gangrene is attached to a person with hands, legs, and a head. People forget that far too often. And that person's head has every right to know exactly what happened to their hand, leg, heart, or brain.

3. YOU ARE NOT GOD!!!!!!! It is not your job to decide who is smart enough or too dim to grasp your high-and-mighty lectures filled with a million Latin terms (the idea that medicine can't be "translated" into plain English for laypeople is total bullshit). Your job is to tell the patient the what, the why, and the how. Every patient has the RIGHT to listen or not. They have the choice; you don't..

Jacob Fox6 said:Spot on—that is exactly it, period. 🙏

It’s like patients expect their doctors to be full-on psychotherapists. I had a situation just today where someone in the hospital kept asking me for test results, even though I told him at least four times that I was just a student passing through that unit... and the guy just wouldn't listen or process what I was saying. It was such an exhausting day already, and then having to deal with someone who literally can't communicate or understand a simple sentence was just the icing on the cake. In the end, I just repeated myself for the fifth time, turned around, and walked away. And then you have people like that writing posts about how doctors are "so-and-so." These situations are just everyday life for medical pros, but people just don't get it. They don't realize that working with people is hands down the hardest part of the job. If doctors actually tried to meet every single demand people have, they’d all just burn out, and then we’d genuinely have no one left to take care of us... and I also totally agree with your post about how under certain conditions, doctors are just going to pack up and leave... and honestly, the European Union being involved might actually help since it would mean removing the Schengen border. Anyone choosing to head out isn't wrong for doing what they've always done, now or in the future...

Medicine is just one of many professions where you're constantly dealing with people. Doctors aren't some special exception to that rule. And yes, working with people is the toughest part, especially when they're sick. But being sick doesn't make someone stupid; they're just unwell. Regardless of how rough your day was as a student, believe me, the patient who just found out they have a serious illness is having a much worse day than you are. And they came to you for help.
As for those colleagues who decided to quit the profession, ask them how long it really takes to learn how to translate medical jargon into plain English. In your case, "plain English" should have been: "I don't know," instead of "I'm just a student passing through." To say that, you need a massive amount of confidence and deep knowledge. Once you reach that level, no patient is going to respect you any less for it.

Susan Rodriguez4 said:Medicine is just one of many professions where you're constantly dealing with people. Doctors aren't some special exception to that rule. And yes, working with people is the toughest part, especially when they're sick. But being sick doesn't make someone stupid; they're just unwell. Regardless of how rough your day was as a student, believe me, the patient who just found out they have a serious illness is having a much worse day than you are. And they came to you for help.
As for those colleagues who decided to quit the profession, ask them how long it really takes to learn how to translate medical jargon into plain English. In your case, "plain English" should have been: "I don't know," instead of "I'm just a student passing through." To say that, you need a massive amount of confidence and deep knowledge. Once you reach that level, no patient is going to respect you any less for it.

That is absolutely the truth, and I’m speaking from my own personal experience on more than a few occasions. It’s never been a case where people looked down on me just because I couldn't nail a diagnosis and had to refer them out. In fact, it’s actually quite the opposite—it usually works the other way around, where people end up respecting you even more once you've sent them to the right specialist through the most direct route possible...

Just as a side note, I walked into work the other day and they tell me those electrodes I've been waiting for since February finally showed up... 🙄

Kevin Garcia12 said:That is absolutely the truth, and I’m speaking from my own personal experience on more than a few occasions. It’s never been a case where people looked down on me just because I couldn't nail a diagnosis and had to refer them out. In fact, it’s actually quite the opposite—it usually works the other way around, where people end up respecting you even more once you've sent them to the right specialist through the most direct route possible...

Just as a side note, I walked into work the other day and they tell me those electrodes I've been waiting for since February finally showed up... 🙄

It looks like even the cats decided to give birth at the exact same moment the order was placed. 😂 We should probably just rename those electrodes: "Kitten Electrodes." 😁

ruggedscout91 said:It looks like even the cats decided to give birth at the exact same moment the order was placed. 😂 We should probably just rename those electrodes: "Kitten Electrodes." 😁

🤣 I bet the old folks back home have already handed those kittens out to the neighbors—not that anyone actually knows when they were even conceived, but hey, it’s a decent thought... 😍

And it wasn't even an official order; I had to draft some special memo just to make it happen because it wasn't even listed as a line item in the procurement plan since nobody had even considered it beforehand—how does that even work... 🤷

Susan Rodriguez4 said:1. That is absolutely wrong. That mindset treats patients like machines rather than human beings. You, of all people, should know that in medicine, 2 plus 2 doesn't always equal 4 like it does in mechanics. Yes, protocols exist, but every human being is a unique organism that reacts differently to the same set of rules. Standardized medicine doesn't ignore individuality; it just provides guidelines for treatment, not guaranteed reactions. But actually providing an individualized approach takes a hell of a lot more knowledge.
And if you have a patient who isn't responding to the standard protocol (which happens about 90% of the time), how exactly are you supposed to just "pick up where someone else left off"?

2. I wasn't talking about that. I was saying that every tumor, heart attack, or case of gangrene is attached to a person with hands, legs, and a head. People forget that far too often. And that person's head has every right to know exactly what happened to their hand, leg, heart, or brain.

3. YOU ARE NOT GOD!!!!!!! It is not your job to decide who is smart enough or too dim to grasp your high-and-mighty lectures filled with a million Latin terms (the idea that medicine can't be "translated" into plain English for laypeople is total bullshit). Your job is to tell the patient the what, the why, and the how. Every patient has the RIGHT to listen or not. They have the choice; you don't..

So, what I’m trying to get at here is—does a backup protocol actually exist if the first one falls through? Or better yet, is there some kind of third, fail-safe protocol waiting in the wings if the second one fails too? I mean, seriously, how is this even structured?
In some perfect, utopian fantasy world, "personalized medicine" supposedly leads to better patient outcomes. But let’s get real for a second—in the actual, messy world we live in? It’s nothing more than a convenient smokescreen used to mask incompetence and sheer ignorance. It’s the ultimate loophole, isn't it? If you follow standard protocols and screw up, there’s a paper trail and accountability. But if you decide to just wing it because you want to be "individualized," suddenly you have the perfect excuse ready to go. When things inevitably go south, what’s the defense? "Oh, I wasn't being careless; I was simply tailoring my approach to this specific patient's unique needs!" It gives anyone the freedom to do whatever they feel like without any oversight or control. How can you regulate someone when they can hide behind the vague label of "personalization" every time they make a mistake? It’s a total disaster waiting to happen.

Thanks for pointing out that I'm not some kind of god—I guess I must have been acting pretty high and mighty somewhere along the line if you felt the need to take me down a notch... clearly, I needed the reality check.

I don't even need to sit here and play judge regarding who’s got enough sense and who doesn't—I can tell the second I start talking to them. Honestly, I have to wonder... do you actually work with people in the real world, or are you just sitting there putting them on this ridiculous pedestal?

Since we’re already going down this rabbit hole about rights versus responsibilities, what do you think about Article 69 of the Constitution:
....
Every individual is obligated, within the scope of their authority and activities, to devote special care to the protection of human health, nature, and the human environment.

By that logic—if we’re being literal—it’s a patient's duty to quit smoking, it’s their duty to stay sober, it’s their duty to lose weight, and so on and so forth...

The thing is, you all seem to have a massive list of obligations, yet you barely bother to fulfill any of them—but suddenly, you become incredibly vocal the second someone mentions your "rights."

@ Jacob Fox6

What happened in the hallway was nothing compared to what's coming—it was just a drop in the bucket. Just wait until you're done with your fax machine🙂
Pretty soon you'll be over here on our side, and then we can stand shoulder to shoulder and defend our positions together.👍

When you look at the doctor-patient relationship, I truly believe the most critical factor is receiving an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Will my physician offer me a warm smile or a friendly glance? Honestly, when you consider how many patients walked through those clinic doors before me today, and how many will follow in my footsteps... please, let’s be realistic.
And God forbid they actually try to take my hand 🙂

Look, speaking both as a doctor and occasionally as a patient myself, my bottom line is simple: when I need a diagnosis or a treatment plan, I want it fast. Period. Does it actually matter if the person providing that care is a total jerk or a literal saint? Honestly, not really. That’s why I find myself nodding along with what Jason Howard9 wrote here.

To put it more bluntly—and maybe I should have phrased it this way from the jump—I’d much rather deal with an absolute moron who actually gives me the medicine I need than some saintly soul who leaves me six feet under because they were too busy being "nice" to be effective.

Kate Collins67 said:Look, speaking both as a doctor and occasionally as a patient myself, my bottom line is simple: when I need a diagnosis or a treatment plan, I want it fast. Period. Does it actually matter if the person providing that care is a total jerk or a literal saint? Honestly, not really. That’s why I find myself nodding along with what Jason Howard9 wrote here.

To put it more bluntly—and maybe I should have phrased it this way from the jump—I’d much rather deal with an absolute moron who actually gives me the medicine I need than some saintly soul who leaves me six feet under because they were too busy being "nice" to be effective.

🤣
It’s exactly regarding that first point that people start judging whether someone is a saint or a scoundrel.

I've always had this nagging thought that those "jerks" who actually possess real healing skills basically fall into the same category as snake oil salesmen or some kind of voodoo practitioners.

Look, you’ve got those absolute "idiots" out there who won't even look you in the eye—or better yet, they'll say something so incredibly condescending to your face that you actually wish they’d just stayed silent—but at least they know how to do their jobs and will eventually fix your issue.

Then you have those "total jerks" who are impossible to track down—the kind who might just rip you a new one right there in the hallway—but if you actually manage to corner them, they’ll get the job done....

Angela Wright said:🤣
It’s exactly regarding that first point that people start judging whether someone is a saint or a scoundrel.

I've always had this nagging thought that those "jerks" who actually possess real healing skills basically fall into the same category as snake oil salesmen or some kind of voodoo practitioners.

I'm curious about that woman you mentioned during the hallway scene—did she actually write down a formal diagnosis on the discharge papers or some kind of medical report? Because if she didn't, I'm really struggling to wrap my head around the point you're trying to make here.

Kate Collins67 said:I'm curious about that woman you mentioned during the hallway scene—did she actually write down a formal diagnosis on the discharge papers or some kind of medical report? Because if she didn't, I'm really struggling to wrap my head around the point you're trying to make here.

And honestly, what does a diagnosis on a piece of paper actually accomplish?
What is a patient supposed to do with it?
They already know they feel terrible; now they just have a fancy name for that "terrible" feeling... so what's next?

jadesailor14 said:And honestly, what does a diagnosis on a piece of paper actually accomplish?
What is a patient supposed to do with it?
They already know they feel terrible; now they just have a fancy name for that "terrible" feeling... so what's next?

Look, I didn't say anything specific, but she basically framed it as if simply slapping a diagnosis on someone and starting treatment is enough to make a doctor "likable" to the patient. So my question is simple: was the diagnosis for this kid actually written down or wasn't it?
If it was, then I don't get why she's getting so worked up about it. If it wasn't, then I don't get why she isn't—I mean, it's standard practice to include a diagnosis in a medical report, isn't it? At least in my experience, whether it's a working diagnosis or a final one, you don't just leave it blank.