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

ruggedscout91 said:I’m actually glad they’re closing the maternity ward in Makarska.
Now, gynecologists who used to squeeze in appointments between deliveries and juggle other patients will finally have enough time to perform a decent ultrasound. Maybe then women won't have to rush to the major hospitals in New York just to deal with benign issues that were missed.

Furthermore, the "midwife system" is standard practice all over the world; it’s an entirely different concept from a full-scale maternity ward.
For any mothers who aren't aware, you can always head in earlier to ensure you arrive on time. It is much safer to go to a proper hospital equipped with operating rooms where complications can actually be handled. In these makeshift clinics, anything could happen.
Milinovic: American healthcare = 1 : 1. 😍

I’m with you on this. I fully support Minister Milinovic’s move.
1. Regarding those maternity wards—they aren't even real hospitals. Aside from a delivery chair and some midwives, what else is there? A woman could basically give birth at home. If something goes wrong, where is the anesthesiologist? How are they going to perform an emergency C-section? They can't. And just like that, two lives are lost... for what?
They were given a deadline to upgrade and equip those birthing centers, yet they haven't spent a dime or improved anything. Honestly, you have to wonder if that money just ended up in someone's pocket...
2. They really need to cut the supplemental benefits for people on unemployment.
With those benefits, they get everything handed to them on a silver platter, just like me—except I actually work and set aside my own money every month.$43 They get free checkups, braces... everything. Meanwhile, most of them are just sitting at home doing nothing.
I think it’s high time we made some smart cuts in healthcare to stop the bleeding of funds. This is a solid start.
For instance, instead of wasting money maintaining those "maternity centers" in Sinj and Supetar, they could open an oncology department or even just a few pediatric rooms for kids and their parents.

silvereagle22 said:I’m with you on this. I fully support Minister Milinovic’s move.
1. Regarding those maternity wards—they aren't even real hospitals. Aside from a delivery chair and some midwives, what else is there? A woman could basically give birth at home. If something goes wrong, where is the anesthesiologist? How are they going to perform an emergency C-section? They can't. And just like that, two lives are lost... for what?
They were given a deadline to upgrade and equip those birthing centers, yet they haven't spent a dime or improved anything. Honestly, you have to wonder if that money just ended up in someone's pocket...
2. They really need to cut the supplemental benefits for people on unemployment.
With those benefits, they get everything handed to them on a silver platter, just like me—except I actually work and set aside my own money every month.$43 They get free checkups, braces... everything. Meanwhile, most of them are just sitting at home doing nothing.
I think it’s high time we made some smart cuts in healthcare to stop the bleeding of funds. This is a solid start.
For instance, instead of wasting money maintaining those "maternity centers" in Sinj and Supetar, they could open an oncology department or even just a few pediatric rooms for kids and their parents.

Exactly. In those tiny clinics, things were so "busy" that a normal outpatient couldn't expect decent service if a labor was underway. I remember my last routine exam with my gynecologist quite clearly. He had been "delivering a baby all night," so he performed my ultrasound in ten seconds flat, noting a fibroid about the size of a fig on a stem.
By the next checkup, it was a mass twenty centimeters in diameter. Apparently, he tracked the small thing, but ignored the massive growth behind the uterus "because he was tired."
And yet, the service was paid for$83 without even receiving a receipt. Now, I am left dealing with a twelve-centimeter scar on my abdomen following extensive, risky surgery. (As previously described).
In small towns and rural areas, getting access to anyone is nearly impossible.
That is why medical services must be performed where they belong and how they should be done. At least now my former doctor will have plenty of time for women who actually have a full set of gynecological organs.

Something has been weighing on my mind: do doctors even realize that every woman needs psychological support after these types of surgeries?
I am simply not the same person anymore. Physically, I feel better, I look better, and everything from my libido to my relationships is fine.
But everything else? I am a completely different person. I loathe every single day of my life. Suddenly, nothing I once enjoyed brings me any satisfaction.

Psychological care is NOT INTEGRATED INTO THE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
This needs to CHANGE.
I have to wonder, does anyone actually know where these professionals—the psychologists and psychiatrists—are located, how many of them there are, or what they are actually doing regarding patients in other medical fields, or even those same patients once they are discharged?

ruggedscout91 said:Something has been weighing on my mind: do doctors even realize that every woman needs psychological support after these types of surgeries?
I am simply not the same person anymore. Physically, I feel better, I look better, and everything from my libido to my relationships is fine.
But everything else? I am a completely different person. I loathe every single day of my life. Suddenly, nothing I once enjoyed brings me any satisfaction.

Psychological care is NOT INTEGRATED INTO THE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
This needs to CHANGE.
I have to wonder, does anyone actually know where these professionals—the psychologists and psychiatrists—are located, how many of them there are, or what they are actually doing regarding patients in other medical fields, or even those same patients once they are discharged?

Of course psychological help and support isn't just "needed," it's essential!!!
I went through all those struggles right alongside my mother, so I know exactly what you mean... my advice is to go out and find it yourself. Get a referral from your primary care doctor and go see a psychologist—you can't do this alone, or maybe try looking into some support groups...
With diagnoses like this (cancer), your mental state is truly the most important thing... both for the treatment itself and for your quality of life.
Just keep pushing forward... stay in the fight. 👍

Susan Rodriguez4 said:I've genuinely tried to wrap my head around you until now, but this? This is complete garbage.
Look, you still have plenty of years of work ahead of you. For your own sake, and for the future of the American healthcare system you belong to, you need to realize one thing: Treat the patient, not the disease.
For a patient to actually get better, they need to understand their diagnosis and the treatment plan. That is your responsibility to your patients. Your job isn't just to scribble a report and pass the buck to another doctor to explain it. Patients have a right to hear the truth directly from their own physician. At the end of the day, doctors exist to serve the patients, not the other way around.
Trust me, try applying that approach. People will become much less irritating to you.
If they keep being this irritating, go work in a lab studying tadpoles or staring through a microscope. It’s clear that dealing with sick, scared, and confused patients is way out of your league.
And one more thing: nothing irritates me more than chasing down a doctor in a hallway. That bothers me even more than it bothers you. That’s why I don't deal with colleagues like that.

I need to add my two cents to this.
I didn't spend ten years in medical school and specialized training just to be bullied by patients. You need some level of empathy—it’s non-negotiable—but I expect my patients to show a basic level of decency and composure in return. When someone storms into my clinic, pounding on the door despite the "do not knock" sign, then barges into the exam room screaming about why they received one less box of medication, frankly, I’d rather send them straight to hell. But I stay quiet. A doctor treats the disease; we diagnose, we provide treatment, and we aim to help. The focus is on the pathology, not the person. If I let myself get emotionally attached to every patient who walks through that door, I’d have retired within three years. I diagnose, I assist, I treat. If the outcome isn't what we hoped for, there is nothing more I can do. I gave it my all. The nurse is there for the patient; the doctor is there for the illness and the cure.
It’s honestly refreshing when patients show up at the ER feeling fine, sunburnt in 105-degree heat, demanding I check their blood pressure just because they can. They see the doctor across the street has a shorter line and suddenly I'm the problem. It’s called an Emergency Room for a reason. When you deal with uninformed, rude people who exhaust you with sheer stupidity and then have the nerve to get insulting, you just want to sit down and cry. Spare me the "why didn't you finish college" lectures. People are just jerks. They're disrespectful and think they're geniuses. I'd love to see one of these patients try stepping into a doctor's shoes. When you haven't left the hospital in two days, seeing 130 people pass through those doors daily, eating poorly, skipping sleep, and working without proper equipment, it's a total disaster.

bluehawk37 said:I need to add my two cents to this.
I didn't spend ten years in medical school and specialized training just to be bullied by patients. You need some level of empathy—it’s non-negotiable—but I expect my patients to show a basic level of decency and composure in return. When someone storms into my clinic, pounding on the door despite the "do not knock" sign, then barges into the exam room screaming about why they received one less box of medication, frankly, I’d rather send them straight to hell. But I stay quiet. A doctor treats the disease; we diagnose, we provide treatment, and we aim to help. The focus is on the pathology, not the person. If I let myself get emotionally attached to every patient who walks through that door, I’d have retired within three years. I diagnose, I assist, I treat. If the outcome isn't what we hoped for, there is nothing more I can do. I gave it my all. The nurse is there for the patient; the doctor is there for the illness and the cure.
It’s honestly refreshing when patients show up at the ER feeling fine, sunburnt in 105-degree heat, demanding I check their blood pressure just because they can. They see the doctor across the street has a shorter line and suddenly I'm the problem. It’s called an Emergency Room for a reason. When you deal with uninformed, rude people who exhaust you with sheer stupidity and then have the nerve to get insulting, you just want to sit down and cry. Spare me the "why didn't you finish college" lectures. People are just jerks. They're disrespectful and think they're geniuses. I'd love to see one of these patients try stepping into a doctor's shoes. When you haven't left the hospital in two days, seeing 130 people pass through those doors daily, eating poorly, skipping sleep, and working without proper equipment, it's a total disaster.

Well, I am not buying that. Real doctors look at both the lab results AND the patient. Because according to you, I'm just another number in a long line and you couldn't care less. And don't even get me started on how private clinics and hospitals play together. As for that last sentence, I only believe the part about being short on equipment. Patients have access to way more information now and they want to know if their lives are actually at risk or not. They want things explained to them. They don't want to be dragged along like a kid on a leash for three years.

Brandon Newman95 said:Well, I am not buying that. Real doctors look at both the lab results AND the patient. Because according to you, I'm just another number in a long line and you couldn't care less. And don't even get me started on how private clinics and hospitals play together. As for that last sentence, I only believe the part about being short on equipment. Patients have access to way more information now and they want to know if their lives are actually at risk or not. They want things explained to them. They don't want to be dragged along like a kid on a leash for three years.

I don't know. I've never seen this distinction between "real" and "fake" doctors. Maybe I should have. Honestly, I don't care. I have your life in my hands, but I have zero interest in your personal drama, inheritance disputes, or whatever other nonsense patients drag into the exam room. I love it when a patient spends twenty minutes talking about their son living overseas instead of telling me what actually hurts—only to tell me after 3,500 tests that they're fine or that I'm looking in the wrong place.

Who said I work in private practice or at a private clinic??

I tell a patient to sit down and calm down, or I let a child in a stroller go ahead of them in line, and they start screaming at me because they've been sitting in the waiting room since dawn. That's about politeness. As for being "informed," forget it. Three out of ten patients are impossible. I tell them exactly what's up: doctors are attacked and reported over nothing, so I personally run ten different tests before I make a call. It's about self-preservation. I don't want to see my name in the headlines tomorrow. It's easier for a patient to call a news station than to call their doctor to ask for an appointment or advice.

bluehawk37 said:I need to add my two cents to this.
I didn't spend ten years in medical school and specialized training just to be bullied by patients. You need some level of empathy—it’s non-negotiable—but I expect my patients to show a basic level of decency and composure in return. When someone storms into my clinic, pounding on the door despite the "do not knock" sign, then barges into the exam room screaming about why they received one less box of medication, frankly, I’d rather send them straight to hell. But I stay quiet. A doctor treats the disease; we diagnose, we provide treatment, and we aim to help. The focus is on the pathology, not the person. If I let myself get emotionally attached to every patient who walks through that door, I’d have retired within three years. I diagnose, I assist, I treat. If the outcome isn't what we hoped for, there is nothing more I can do. I gave it my all. The nurse is there for the patient; the doctor is there for the illness and the cure.
It’s honestly refreshing when patients show up at the ER feeling fine, sunburnt in 105-degree heat, demanding I check their blood pressure just because they can. They see the doctor across the street has a shorter line and suddenly I'm the problem. It’s called an Emergency Room for a reason. When you deal with uninformed, rude people who exhaust you with sheer stupidity and then have the nerve to get insulting, you just want to sit down and cry. Spare me the "why didn't you finish college" lectures. People are just jerks. They're disrespectful and think they're geniuses. I'd love to see one of these patients try stepping into a doctor's shoes. When you haven't left the hospital in two days, seeing 130 people pass through those doors daily, eating poorly, skipping sleep, and working without proper equipment, it's a total disaster.

😲
The very way a patient carries themselves actually tells you a lot about their mental state and composure. Often, those elevated vitals are just a result of fear from uncertainty, pain, or
being misunderstood by everyone around them. So, instead of "expecting" certain behavior from a patient, maybe
we should be the ones providing that stability first, rather than demanding it from them. If we provide that, the patient can reach
that calm state. Their emotions are already shaken up enough by the illness itself. There’s no reason
to pile on more stress with these "expectations." 😉
By the way, once you've finished med school, residency, and all that specialized training,
you've essentially set out to learn how to prevent suffering, alleviate pain, and apply knowledge that leads toward healing. Someone else's illness is someone else's suffering, and if you choose to, you can—or
rather, you should—share a few words of comfort and encouragement. That's easily half the battle when it comes to healing a patient's spirit. I don't think that would interfere with your diagnostic work or your treatment plan much at all.
But hey, that's just my two cents. 🙂

When a patient storms into the clinic, pounding on the doors, ignoring the "please do not knock" signs, barging into the office, and yelling about this or that, or why they received a smaller box of medication... I'd love to just tell them where to go, but I keep it professional. A doctor treats the disease and tries to diagnose what the patient is dealing with to provide treatment and help. The focus is on the pathology, not the person.

That "would love to" sentiment is exactly what the Red Order of Malta strives to move past. 🥳
The idea is to focus on everything, but always put "the person first." It's actually the title of a really great book,
by Prof. Ivan Golub. Highly recommend it—no prescription needed. 🙂

If I got emotionally attached to every single patient who walked through my door, I'd be retired within three years. I diagnose, I help, I provide treatment; if they don't pull through or if I can't help them, there's nothing more I can do. I gave it my all. Nurses are there for the patient, while doctors are there for the disease and the therapy.
It especially gets to me when patients show up at the ER because they aren't feeling well—looking pale and exhausted even though it's 100 degrees outside—and they demand I check their blood pressure. Meanwhile, there's another doctor right across the hall, so I have to wonder why they're bothering me. The waiting room is packed. The Emergency Room is called "Emergency" for a reason! When a patient is uninformed, rude, drives you crazy with nonsense, and then starts insulting you, honestly, sometimes you just want to sit down and cry. Forget all that talk about why you went to med school...People can just be scum... Honestly. They're rude and think they know everything better than you. I really wish I could see what it’s like for a patient to step into a doctor's shoes for once. When you haven't left the hospital in two days, you've got 130 people cycling through those doors every single day. You're drinking whatever, eating terrible food, barely sleeping, and dealing with zero equipment... It's a total disaster.

"People are scum"??? And you say it just "simply," just like that??? 😲
You say you'd "like to see a patient in the role of a doctor," especially
"when you haven't left the hospital in two days," and so on. Well, try looking at things from the other
side—the patient's side. How many days do they spend stuck in that hospital without leaving??? And what kind of stuff are they actually going through
inside that facility??? Try seeing it through their eyes, which are usually filled with fear of the unknown.
For most people, medicine is a complete mystery. 🙂

I’m totally on the same page as bluehawk37 here.
Let's face it, as patients, we're absolute trash.
It's just a fact.

Peter Stewart6 said:😲
The very way a patient carries themselves actually tells you a lot about their mental state and composure. Often, those elevated vitals are just a result of fear from uncertainty, pain, or
being misunderstood by everyone around them. So, instead of "expecting" certain behavior from a patient, maybe
we should be the ones providing that stability first, rather than demanding it from them. If we provide that, the patient can reach
that calm state. Their emotions are already shaken up enough by the illness itself. There’s no reason
to pile on more stress with these "expectations." 😉
By the way, once you've finished med school, residency, and all that specialized training,
you've essentially set out to learn how to prevent suffering, alleviate pain, and apply knowledge that leads toward healing. Someone else's illness is someone else's suffering, and if you choose to, you can—or
rather, you should—share a few words of comfort and encouragement. That's easily half the battle when it comes to healing a patient's spirit. I don't think that would interfere with your diagnostic work or your treatment plan much at all.
But hey, that's just my two cents. 🙂

When a patient storms into the clinic, pounding on the doors, ignoring the "please do not knock" signs, barging into the office, and yelling about this or that, or why they received a smaller box of medication... I'd love to just tell them where to go, but I keep it professional. A doctor treats the disease and tries to diagnose what the patient is dealing with to provide treatment and help. The focus is on the pathology, not the person.

That "would love to" sentiment is exactly what the Red Order of Malta strives to move past. 🥳
The idea is to focus on everything, but always put "the person first." It's actually the title of a really great book,
by Prof. Ivan Golub. Highly recommend it—no prescription needed. 🙂

If I got emotionally attached to every single patient who walked through my door, I'd be retired within three years. I diagnose, I help, I provide treatment; if they don't pull through or if I can't help them, there's nothing more I can do. I gave it my all. Nurses are there for the patient, while doctors are there for the disease and the therapy.
It especially gets to me when patients show up at the ER because they aren't feeling well—looking pale and exhausted even though it's 100 degrees outside—and they demand I check their blood pressure. Meanwhile, there's another doctor right across the hall, so I have to wonder why they're bothering me. The waiting room is packed. The Emergency Room is called "Emergency" for a reason! When a patient is uninformed, rude, drives you crazy with nonsense, and then starts insulting you, honestly, sometimes you just want to sit down and cry. Forget all that talk about why you went to med school...People can just be scum... Honestly. They're rude and think they know everything better than you. I really wish I could see what it’s like for a patient to step into a doctor's shoes for once. When you haven't left the hospital in two days, you've got 130 people cycling through those doors every single day. You're drinking whatever, eating terrible food, barely sleeping, and dealing with zero equipment... It's a total disaster.

"People are scum"??? And you say it just "simply," just like that??? 😲
You say you'd "like to see a patient in the role of a doctor," especially
"when you haven't left the hospital in two days," and so on. Well, try looking at things from the other
side—the patient's side. How many days do they spend stuck in that hospital without leaving??? And what kind of stuff are they actually going through
inside that facility??? Try seeing it through their eyes, which are usually filled with fear of the unknown.
For most people, medicine is a complete mystery. 🙂

Long time no see! 😁
It’s perfectly normal for a patient to show up worried about their health. I'm a doctor, and I worry when I have a common cold too. But when a patient has a slight fever and a runny nose—someone who deals with allergies every year—and then claims they were browsing the web and saw a disease that occurs once in 500,000 people and demands testing, I lose my patience. Encouragement is always part of the job; I've never denied that. I care and I pray for my patients because that is the code. But sometimes, working with people is genuinely difficult.

Ideally, it should follow the principles held by the Red Order of Malta. 🥳
The emphasis is on everything, but "humanity first." That is the title and core message of the beautiful book by
Prof. Ivan Golub. I recommend it highly. 🙂

From a spiritual standpoint, that is correct, and I have never disagreed. I still adhere to those values and deeply respect Mr. Golub. 😁😁 Because of this, I have approached healthcare as both care and service.

"People are scum"??? And you say that "simply," *einfach so*??? 😲
You claim you'd "love to see some patients in the role of the doctor," especially
"when you haven't left the hospital in two days," etc. Now try looking at it from the other side.
It’s from their perspective—the patients. How many days do they spend stuck in those hospital beds? And what kind of chaos are they actually dealing with
inside that facility? Try looking at things through eyes clouded by the fear of the unknown.
For most people, medicine is a complete mystery. 🙂

The people lying in hospital beds aren't all the same. One forum user already categorized doctors, so I’ll categorize the patients. You have the critically ill who stay long-term, the occasional patients, and then you have the hypochondriacs. The vast majority fall into that last group. They are rude, arrogant, and frankly, unpleasant. A person who is genuinely sick and worried isn't looking for an insult, that's a fact. When someone is truly scared, their demeanor changes; they are much easier to deal with. But those who show up just to invent illnesses are unbearable. The other day in a waiting room, an elderly woman told me she wanted an AIDS test because she thought her symptoms matched it, though she didn't even understand what AIDS was. But she asked for it. And who am I to deny her? It's senseless and a waste of time... but there it is.

Jacob Fox6 said:.....People can be absolute scum......

I really can't argue with that—some people definitely are.
But honestly, you find scum on both sides of the aisle.

So, you mentioned you'd love to see patients stepping into the doctors' shoes for once.
I bet it would be quite the sight to see some of those arrogant, rude doctors experiencing life as patients when they end up under the care of one of their own colleagues!
And let's be real, they wouldn't have their buddies looking out for them, either.

Ten years of school, training, and specializing...
Why emphasize that so much? Are you expecting a medal for it, or maybe some special thanks or admiration?
Do you think people in other professions don't spend years studying and honing their craft throughout their entire lives?
And most of them aren't even doing it on the government's dime—they're paying for it themselves!
Nowadays, if you aren't constantly leveling up, you just get left behind in the job market.

jadesailor14 said:I really can't argue with that—some people definitely are.
But honestly, you find scum on both sides of the aisle.

So, you mentioned you'd love to see patients stepping into the doctors' shoes for once.
I bet it would be quite the sight to see some of those arrogant, rude doctors experiencing life as patients when they end up under the care of one of their own colleagues!
And let's be real, they wouldn't have their buddies looking out for them, either.

Ten years of school, training, and specializing...
Why emphasize that so much? Are you expecting a medal for it, or maybe some special thanks or admiration?
Do you think people in other professions don't spend years studying and honing their craft throughout their entire lives?
And most of them aren't even doing it on the government's dime—they're paying for it themselves!
Nowadays, if you aren't constantly leveling up, you just get left behind in the job market.

I am speaking from my own perspective. You get what you give. How you treat others is how they will treat you. I don't see the issue.

When I said ten years, the emphasis was on the second half of my point. But fine, it doesn't matter. I paid for my own specialization. I don't expect admiration because I work essentially as a humanitarian. Gratitude is rare, and it doesn't affect me because I know I've done my part. I have my honors, but not because of school or my title.
I'm not claiming to be more valuable than anyone else, nor have I ever made that point. It's just impressive how you take a simple phrase about ten years of experience and turn it into a way to deflect the topic. Typical American behavior. Like an ostrich sticking its head in the sand. A shame.

bluehawk37 said:I don't know. I've never seen this distinction between "real" and "fake" doctors. Maybe I should have. Honestly, I don't care. I have your life in my hands, but I have zero interest in your personal drama, inheritance disputes, or whatever other nonsense patients drag into the exam room. I love it when a patient spends twenty minutes talking about their son living overseas instead of telling me what actually hurts—only to tell me after 3,500 tests that they're fine or that I'm looking in the wrong place.

Who said I work in private practice or at a private clinic??

I tell a patient to sit down and calm down, or I let a child in a stroller go ahead of them in line, and they start screaming at me because they've been sitting in the waiting room since dawn. That's about politeness. As for being "informed," forget it. Three out of ten patients are impossible. I tell them exactly what's up: doctors are attacked and reported over nothing, so I personally run ten different tests before I make a call. It's about self-preservation. I don't want to see my name in the headlines tomorrow. It's easier for a patient to call a news station than to call their doctor to ask for an appointment or advice.

I wasn't saying patients shouldn't talk about their history. I meant that a *real* doctor will always look at both the lab results AND the patient (instead of just talking about a son abroad) and then order the right tests. They should ask how someone was acting before a virus hit—like, were they in pain, how were they handling social stuff, or anything regarding their physical constitution, especially if you have bloodwork or pathology results. At the end of the day, private problems can absolutely trigger physical illness. No matter how hard that is for you to wrap your head around.

Second, I never said you were in private practice, but everyone knows those private clinics work hand-in-hand with the big hospitals.

Fine, kids, pregnant women, and people with disabilities get priority. I'm not complaining about that (believe me, I've spent plenty of time waiting in line and shuffling from one doctor to another myself).

I'm not exactly sure where you practice, and I'd rather not find out in case we actually know each other in real life. But seriously, I was treated like a ragdoll for three whole years because my cases weren't processed within two weeks. If they had, it would have saved my primary care doctor a massive headache and a mountain of unnecessary tests that could have been handled in a fortnight.

bluehawk37 said:I am speaking from my own perspective. You get what you give. How you treat others is how they will treat you. I don't see the issue.

When I said ten years, the emphasis was on the second half of my point. But fine, it doesn't matter. I paid for my own specialization. I don't expect admiration because I work essentially as a humanitarian. Gratitude is rare, and it doesn't affect me because I know I've done my part. I have my honors, but not because of school or my title.
I'm not claiming to be more valuable than anyone else, nor have I ever made that point. It's just impressive how you take a simple phrase about ten years of experience and turn it into a way to deflect the topic. Typical American behavior. Like an ostrich sticking its head in the sand. A shame.

We've seen posts like this before.
The whole "I've been studying forever, working my tail off, and still making nothing" routine... Most people feel that way, so you can take that energy elsewhere.
Just like how you feel, the lady behind the counter at the bank feels it too.
But at least you have the freedom to vent about the misery hitting you, whereas if she raises her voice, she might lose her job.
As a patient, your personal life—or anyone else's for that matter—doesn't affect me even one percent. I just don't care.
I don't bring my own baggage into the waiting room or the exam room, so I really don't want to be burdened by someone else's drama either.
If we were friends, I could totally empathize with your frustrations, but in this setting? I'm just not interested.
All I want is pure, cold professionalism, though sometimes that's hard to find.
And that's the catch.
I don't want people taking their frustrations out on me, treating me like an idiot, or acting like I'm garbage...

There's always another side to the story that looks exactly the same. 😬
Yeah, people can be jerks, but that goes both ways in any situation.

People can be absolute bottom-feeders. And honestly, you can divide them into left, right, or centrist. 😳

I’d strongly suggest any doctors reading this pick up David Servan-Schreiber's "against cancer." He does a killer job describing that gut-punch feeling when you suddenly find yourself crawling into pajamas while still holding a university professorship. I imagine the shock hits you lot even harder than it does us mere mortals. 😳

Angela Wright said:People can be absolute bottom-feeders. And honestly, you can divide them into left, right, or centrist. 😳

I’d strongly suggest any doctors reading this pick up David Servan-Schreiber's "against cancer." He does a killer job describing that gut-punch feeling when you suddenly find yourself crawling into pajamas while still holding a university professorship. I imagine the shock hits you lot even harder than it does us mere mortals. 😳

That's the truth. Even doctors aren't immune to getting sick.

Brandon Newman95 - It’s not incomprehensible to me. I always demand a detailed medical history and full clinical background. I don't play games. But once they start projecting their own issues onto me and drifting away from the actual problem, then we have an issue.
I work as a physician for the Maltese humanitarian organization. I move around frequently. I go wherever a doctor is needed. I don't hold a permanent position. I doubt we've met, but it doesn't matter.

jadesailor14 - I don't unload my frustrations on patients, so where are you getting that from? Sure, I raise my voice and I can be arrogant, but that lady at Chase Bank knows how to be, and so does the officer at the police station. Still, you get patients who
are experts at shifting the blame onto the doctor, but I put up with them because they're ridiculous.

Angela Wright - Generally speaking, I don't like oncologists or their literature. I have nothing against them personally, and I know it's a massive shock for anyone involved, and I empathize, but I avoid them. I would never do that job, regardless of the money.
Knowing that most of your patients are going to die and having to deal with that every single day is horrific. Respect to those people. I believe it would be a massive shock for anyone.

bluehawk37 said:Long time no see! 😁
It’s perfectly normal for a patient to show up worried about their health. I'm a doctor, and I worry when I have a common cold too. But when a patient has a slight fever and a runny nose—someone who deals with allergies every year—and then claims they were browsing the web and saw a disease that occurs once in 500,000 people and demands testing, I lose my patience. Encouragement is always part of the job; I've never denied that. I care and I pray for my patients because that is the code. But sometimes, working with people is genuinely difficult.

Ideally, it should follow the principles held by the Red Order of Malta. 🥳
The emphasis is on everything, but "humanity first." That is the title and core message of the beautiful book by
Prof. Ivan Golub. I recommend it highly. 🙂

From a spiritual standpoint, that is correct, and I have never disagreed. I still adhere to those values and deeply respect Mr. Golub. 😁😁 Because of this, I have approached healthcare as both care and service.

"People are scum"??? And you say that "simply," *einfach so*??? 😲
You claim you'd "love to see some patients in the role of the doctor," especially
"when you haven't left the hospital in two days," etc. Now try looking at it from the other side.
It’s from their perspective—the patients. How many days do they spend stuck in those hospital beds? And what kind of chaos are they actually dealing with
inside that facility? Try looking at things through eyes clouded by the fear of the unknown.
For most people, medicine is a complete mystery. 🙂

The people lying in hospital beds aren't all the same. One forum user already categorized doctors, so I’ll categorize the patients. You have the critically ill who stay long-term, the occasional patients, and then you have the hypochondriacs. The vast majority fall into that last group. They are rude, arrogant, and frankly, unpleasant. A person who is genuinely sick and worried isn't looking for an insult, that's a fact. When someone is truly scared, their demeanor changes; they are much easier to deal with. But those who show up just to invent illnesses are unbearable. The other day in a waiting room, an elderly woman told me she wanted an AIDS test because she thought her symptoms matched it, though she didn't even understand what AIDS was. But she asked for it. And who am I to deny her? It's senseless and a waste of time... but there it is.

Apso, man, it’s been way too long! 😁
Bold is basically 95% medical student material. He "has every disease under the sun," depending on what they're lecturing about that day.
Which departments? 😬
I think you really mean it. You put some actual soul into those statements, so that's why I reacted the way I did.
P.S. Knowing how you operate, I honestly think this is just coming from burnout and exhaustion rather than any actual malice.
I'll give you this much: working with people can be genuinely exhausting sometimes. But when you finally figure it out...
It’s just easier when you have someone to do it for. 🙂

From a spiritual standpoint, that’s absolutely true, and I’ve never denied it. I still hold onto those beliefs, and I have a lot of respect for Professor Golub. Because of that, I've started looking at healthcare more through the lens of care and service.

🙂
In the hospitality industry, they always say the customer is always right. But honestly? I have my doubts. Is that actually true? 🤦
I’m not trying to make a direct comparison here, but I suppose there might be some overlap with healthcare, if you look at it as a specific type of care or service. It really comes down to the core idea of what "service" actually means—the act of serving others. I'm not talking about how qualified someone is to provide medical care or nursing, nor am I trying to compare those skill sets. I just think it's worth reflecting on where we stand and what our actual level of service looks like.
It’s almost like an automatic reflex, you know? Like some kind of programmed response. 🙂 Is it just empty politeness, or what? 🤷 I tend to write quite a bit. Maybe I'm just being a dreamer when I say things could actually be better—that we could do things differently. 🤷

People in hospitals—whether they’re staying long-term or just passing through—are all cut from different cloth. One of the guys on this forum tried to categorize doctors, so I figured I’d take a crack at categorizing patients instead. You’ve got your critically ill patients who actually need to be there, you’ve got the occasional visitors, and then you have the hypochondriacs. Honestly? Most of them fall into that last group. They can be incredibly rude, arrogant, and just plain unpleasant to deal with. I'll put my money on this: when you're actually sick and genuinely worried about your health, you don't really have the energy to go around being insulting. When things get heavy, you see people differently. It’s easy enough to deal with folks who are actually going through it—you can talk to them, connect with them. But those people who just show up and start making up illnesses? They’re honestly unbearable. The other day, my grandmother was sitting in the waiting room and told me she wanted an AIDS test. She said she’d noticed some symptoms that seemed to match up, but she doesn't really understand what AIDS actually is. Still, she wants the test. And honestly, who am I to tell her no? It feels completely pointless and useless... but there it is.

It really comes down to the individual; everyone is different, and everyone has their own temperament.
Divisions—yeah, those divisions can lead straight into prejudice. It’s true that there are people
who constantly project illnesses onto themselves; hypochondriacs. Their trigger is fear, and the roots go deep into the spirit. They look for answers on a physical level, but we need to investigate the spiritual
dimension and help free people from that fear. If we used a more thoughtful approach and better triage for these patients in primary care, we could actually make their lives easier, which would also shorten the wait times in various specialist clinics.
The trigger is fear, and sometimes that "copy-paste" mentality is justified, but more often than not, it's just hypochondria.

Bold, watch your step. You might want to walk that statement back; I've seen and heard enough
that I can't say I agree with you. Especially when it comes to offering a hand for this or anything else. I think I'm allowed to tell you that.
And honestly, if a grandmother wants to get tested for AIDS, then let her get tested once she can't be reasoned out of it. Anyone who has reasons to
be suspicious can go in for an AIDS test. Either help ease her fear or just send her on her way so you can have a clear conscience.
Then just move on without wasting your energy. 🙂

silvereagle22 said:Of course psychological help and support isn't just "needed," it's essential!!!
I went through all those struggles right alongside my mother, so I know exactly what you mean... my advice is to go out and find it yourself. Get a referral from your primary care doctor and go see a psychologist—you can't do this alone, or maybe try looking into some support groups...
With diagnoses like this (cancer), your mental state is truly the most important thing... both for the treatment itself and for your quality of life.
Just keep pushing forward... stay in the fight. 👍

It wasn't cancer; it was a massive fibroid. It was pressing against everything nearby. It was a mess.

Peter Stewart6 said:Apso, man, it’s been way too long! 😁
Bold is basically 95% medical student material. He "has every disease under the sun," depending on what they're lecturing about that day.
Which departments? 😬
I think you really mean it. You put some actual soul into those statements, so that's why I reacted the way I did.
P.S. Knowing how you operate, I honestly think this is just coming from burnout and exhaustion rather than any actual malice.
I'll give you this much: working with people can be genuinely exhausting sometimes. But when you finally figure it out...
It’s just easier when you have someone to do it for. 🙂

From a spiritual standpoint, that’s absolutely true, and I’ve never denied it. I still hold onto those beliefs, and I have a lot of respect for Professor Golub. Because of that, I've started looking at healthcare more through the lens of care and service.

🙂
In the hospitality industry, they always say the customer is always right. But honestly? I have my doubts. Is that actually true? 🤦
I’m not trying to make a direct comparison here, but I suppose there might be some overlap with healthcare, if you look at it as a specific type of care or service. It really comes down to the core idea of what "service" actually means—the act of serving others. I'm not talking about how qualified someone is to provide medical care or nursing, nor am I trying to compare those skill sets. I just think it's worth reflecting on where we stand and what our actual level of service looks like.
It’s almost like an automatic reflex, you know? Like some kind of programmed response. 🙂 Is it just empty politeness, or what? 🤷 I tend to write quite a bit. Maybe I'm just being a dreamer when I say things could actually be better—that we could do things differently. 🤷

People in hospitals—whether they’re staying long-term or just passing through—are all cut from different cloth. One of the guys on this forum tried to categorize doctors, so I figured I’d take a crack at categorizing patients instead. You’ve got your critically ill patients who actually need to be there, you’ve got the occasional visitors, and then you have the hypochondriacs. Honestly? Most of them fall into that last group. They can be incredibly rude, arrogant, and just plain unpleasant to deal with. I'll put my money on this: when you're actually sick and genuinely worried about your health, you don't really have the energy to go around being insulting. When things get heavy, you see people differently. It’s easy enough to deal with folks who are actually going through it—you can talk to them, connect with them. But those people who just show up and start making up illnesses? They’re honestly unbearable. The other day, my grandmother was sitting in the waiting room and told me she wanted an AIDS test. She said she’d noticed some symptoms that seemed to match up, but she doesn't really understand what AIDS actually is. Still, she wants the test. And honestly, who am I to tell her no? It feels completely pointless and useless... but there it is.

It really comes down to the individual; everyone is different, and everyone has their own temperament.
Divisions—yeah, those divisions can lead straight into prejudice. It’s true that there are people
who constantly project illnesses onto themselves; hypochondriacs. Their trigger is fear, and the roots go deep into the spirit. They look for answers on a physical level, but we need to investigate the spiritual
dimension and help free people from that fear. If we used a more thoughtful approach and better triage for these patients in primary care, we could actually make their lives easier, which would also shorten the wait times in various specialist clinics.
The trigger is fear, and sometimes that "copy-paste" mentality is justified, but more often than not, it's just hypochondria.

Bold, watch your step. You might want to walk that statement back; I've seen and heard enough
that I can't say I agree with you. Especially when it comes to offering a hand for this or anything else. I think I'm allowed to tell you that.
And honestly, if a grandmother wants to get tested for AIDS, then let her get tested once she can't be reasoned out of it. Anyone who has reasons to
be suspicious can go in for an AIDS test. Either help ease her fear or just send her on her way so you can have a clear conscience.
Then just move on without wasting your energy. 🙂

Man, you have no idea how much you cracked me up... 😁
But seriously, you're hitting the nail on the head.
If you actually want to master something, you kind of have to "survive" the mental grind first...😁
And honestly, it's just part of being a student... like, 95% of them probably felt like they were catching all 90% of the diseases they studied in pathology or pathophysiology, but hey, that's exactly why they'll remember it forever... 😁