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

Angela Wright said:dustymarlin10, asking about the logic behind vehicle inspections is like questioning why an inspection exists when everything looks fine with the car—except maybe the exhaust sounds like a foghorn even though there isn't a hole in it. Look, most people actually finished school and have a clue about what they're doing and why they're doing it.
Just let professionals do their jobs. If something doesn't sit right with you, ask direct questions and demand straight answers; you have every right to do that, just like your old man would. I’ll be the first to admit nothing is perfect, but I guarantee you they are cutting corners on things they absolutely shouldn't be skimping on.

vividsailor7 said:Finally, someone actually gets it.

quietbison7 said:...man, I wasn't even gonna weigh in on this, but look—half the people working in private clinics are my actual colleagues. If you think you'll get better service at a private facility, go for it, by all means. Health is the top priority, period. But don't go thinking "private" automatically equals "better." It's a trap. What patients really crave is feeling like a human being instead of just another number or some "bottle" rolling down an assembly line. That’s exactly where private clinics hit the jackpot. Look, the medical knowledge, the expertise, the actual treatment? It's identical whether you're at a public hospital or a private clinic. The only real difference is the attitude. It's the same specialists doing the work. So, the difference is really just in your head, the waiting room lines, the crowds, and how polite they are to you. At the end of the day, that's what patients are actually paying for. Honestly, as long as things stay this way, it works out for everyone. 🙂

swiftbear86 said:So why is it that one doctor treats you like they can't even be bothered to look at you when they're at the local hospital, but suddenly becomes charming and attentive once they move to a private practice? That tells you everything you need to know about their character. I won't argue about their technical skill—expertise is one thing—but I truly believe that regardless of where you work, you should act professionally and be decent to people. We touched on this ten pages ago, and doctors hate hearing it. They seem to think being kind isn't part of the job, only being smart is. Personally, I think the most important thing is that they actually show interest in solving your problem. Once they do that, their expertise really starts to shine.

Luyindula said:I'm not sure where to post this, so I'll just drop it here.

For ten years, I've been going to the Ophthalmology Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital for eye exams. Every time I call to schedule, they give me a date that's maybe a month or a month and a half out.

This morning I called—after about a thousand attempts, I finally got through—and the woman gives me a date for 01.14.2014. 🙏

Can someone explain what's going on here? How did the wait jump from a month to six months? To make matters worse, I lost my glasses, and she had the nerve to tell me they couldn't see me sooner and that if I didn't want the appointment, I shouldn't bother booking. Has anyone else dealt with them? I'd go elsewhere, but I really value Dr. Juratovac and wanted to consult him regarding laser surgery. But waiting until mid-January? I don't know if I'll even be around by then.

retko28 said:Hey! How's it going? Look, I don't know how much this will help, but here is what I did: My issues weren't quite like yours—it was my posterior segment, specifically the retina (not going to get into the technical details)—but basically, on a day when your doctor, Juratovac, is working, just get up early and head straight to the Johns Hopkins ER. They'll take you in and examine you, and once the on-call doctors see you, you'll get a referral paper. Take that paper and go straight to the doctor, bypassing the usual line. Tell them you lost your glasses and your eye is hurting, so you practically can't function. They are required to see you. That's how I handled it, so give it a shot! I know exactly what you're talking about; usually, the wait is about one to three months. Is that better?

Nicholas Myers said:What is the issue with waiting six and a half months if someone wants to consult a specialist about laser vision correction? Is laser surgery such an emergency that it can't wait?

retko28 said:Tell them I lost my glasses and my eye is acting up. Basically, I'm out of commission.

Looks like you can find just about anything here.

I’m hoping we see a shift toward a system where anyone showing up at the ER without an actual emergency gets billed accordingly—and heavily.

David Mitchell4 said:I pay my health insurance premiums like clockwork every single month. Because of that, I expect service when I actually need it—not after waiting several months. This whole logic where the system prioritizes padding the federal budget at the direct expense of the patient just doesn't make sense to me.

Nicholas Myers said:Do people honestly believe that healthcare services in other countries are just instantly available? That you can walk in elsewhere and skip the wait for an exam? It’s a naive assumption.

And yes, how would you actually solve this? Specifically regarding strabismus—how do you tackle a situation where, out of 200,000 people dealing with strabismus in America, you can count the available strabologists on one hand?

If we start labeling everything an emergency, then what actually qualifies? Is it when a child—who might already be struggling with vision issues—is left sitting around waiting for an appointment at that same ophthalmology clinic?

Quite lovely. 😢

David Mitchell4 said:Age shouldn't be a factor. Whether it's a child, a young adult, or an elderly person—it doesn't matter. Every individual deserves access to a medical exam whenever they need one. Period.

Nicholas Myers said:Yes, but I am asking you once more: how exactly is that supposed to work given the current number of available doctors?

Everyone should have them. Everyone has the right. But in the day-to-day grind—it just doesn't happen.

So, where does that leave me now?

Lying about arriving early just to get ahead in line? Is that really acceptable to you? You added a smiley face to the suggestion, so now I have to ask...

And let’s be clear: the specific diagnosis doesn't change the reality of how things work. There is such a thing as patient triage. Not everyone can be seen at once; someone has to take priority. Just because a situation feels like an absolute emergency to one individual doesn't mean lying to jump the queue is a valid way to handle daily operations. It simply isn't.

David Mitchell4 said:It’s that classic ethics textbook dilemma—is it justifiable to break into a pharmacy to grab life-saving medication for someone who can't afford it? My position is firm: when health is at stake, the rules change. Besides, I think we're drifting off-topic here. 😉

Nicholas Myers said:Sure, it's clear enough—you'll lie just to get an earlier appointment! 😢

David Mitchell4 said:Now you're just slandering me. I didn't say lying; I said urgent necessity. If my need is immediate, that isn't a lie. Regards.

retko28 said:

Nicholas Myers said:It looks like you can find out just about anything here.

I’m hoping we soon adopt a model where anyone showing up at the ER for non-emergencies gets billed accordingly. It would be about time.

Good day! Now that we are part of the European Union, rest assured that certain things will finally be brought into order. Until now, doctors and other medical staff weren't really held accountable—no one truly knew what they were doing or how they were doing it. Now, someone else will be overseeing the oversight.

melloworca6 said:My only hope is that they start charging for those trips to the ER for trivial nonsense. The rest of us, waiting patiently for check-ups and routine screenings, are treated like idiots who don't care about our own health or the health of our families. People just pretend to be "smart" by heading to the ER, exaggerating symptoms, and getting everything handled immediately without the wait.

Meanwhile, someone’s mother, father, or child is stuck in the waiting room because the doctors and equipment are tied up with non-urgent cases. As much as I dislike the American healthcare system, I see people here practically begging to be charged. They need to feel the sting in their wallets to actually value what they have.

The argument that "I pay my insurance, why should I wait?" is laughable. Do those waiting for tests and consultations not pay their premiums either? We can't all act like we own every right under the sun.
Look, we live in a country where people wait a month or two for chemo because the monthly drug quota ran out—that’s what we are actually discussing here. What rights and demands are we even talking about? The healthcare system is fundamentally broken; it isn't the fault of the patients, the doctors, the nurses, or the lab techs. You're directing your anger at the wrong address.

David Mitchell4 said:

melloworca6 said:What if we all started acting like we actually had rights in this world?

Maybe then politicians would actually take us seriously and fix the systemic issues causing these delays and frustrations. But no, it’s easier to just keep our heads down, follow orders, and wait indefinitely... and then come here to complain about it. 😁

David Mitchell4 said:

melloworca6 said:As much as I despise the American healthcare system, I see people here vaping as if they aren't being bled dry by costs—as if they should be charged for every breath just to learn how to appreciate what they have.

For God's sake, we live in a country where you might wait a month or two for chemo because the monthly drug quota ran out. In light of that, what are we even discussing here regarding "rights" and demands?

Make up your mind: are we supposed to be satisfied with our healthcare or not? I think we're all on the same side. It's just like anything else in life—some people are proactive, some are passive, and unfortunately, most people don't care until they suddenly need a checkup and wonder why the wait is so long, despite paying into the system for years without ever using it. Welcome to America.

Perhaps it would actually be better if healthcare weren't mandatory. If you want it, fine; if not, save your money and go to a private clinic when you finally need it. End of story. We're getting off-topic here. 😍

melloworca6 said:Like I said, the anger is being directed at the wrong people. A few posts ago, people were calling others idiots just because they're scheduling appointments months in advance. As if the staff at the hospitals—who are already struggling with shortages of personnel and equipment—are the ones at fault for being insulted.

And then people have the nerve to give advice on how to "skip the line" at the ER. Look, the ER is meant for emergencies, not for impatient patients who refuse to wait. If you want change, write letters to the Department of Health or your representatives. Put pressure on the people who actually have the power to change things.

I don't usually weigh in on people's advice regarding how to manipulate a situation to get what they want, but when it comes to tips on how to cut the line at the ER just to avoid waiting months, I can't stay silent. I truly wish nothing but the best for those who manage to squeeze ahead in the emergency room through sheer luck—may they never have to experience the karma of someone else cutting in front of them when they or a loved one actually faces a true medical emergency.

Our system is pretty pathetic. If we actually operated under the American model, we’d realize just how lucky we've been. Right now, we’re just clinging to these inefficiencies, waiting for the whole thing to collapse so we're forced to pay out of our own pockets.

David Mitchell4 said:I think you're stressing over someone else's problems for no reason. If you didn't know—or if anyone else did—the triage sequence at the ER is pretty much set in stone. Urgent matters.All this talk about crowding people out or taking space away from those who need it—it’s all pointless. You aren't actually taking anything from anyone; you're simply giving yourself a fair shot at getting things resolved within a reasonable timeframe. And a word of advice: don't go wishing ill on others. You know as well as I do that everything eventually finds its way back to the source.

melloworca6 said:I don't worry about myself. I don't head to the ER over trivialities, nor do I call emergency services for nonsense. My conscience is clear on that front, and I'm not losing sleep over potential repercussions. Those who actually practice such behavior should be the ones looking over their shoulders—karma is a relentless little thing. 😉

Suppose you have three ambulances out on calls, staffed by three doctors. If all three units are dispatched—but two of them are responding to absolute nonsense—then how exactly can you claim this doesn't hurt the people who actually need help? You wouldn't believe it, but people really do call 911 for complete trifles. Are they just cloning vehicles and doctors at this point? Because if I’m having a heart attack right now, it feels like they're sending me a unit that doesn't even exist.

It’s the same story in the hospital. Unfortunately, we’re dealing with limited doctors, nurses, and equipment on the wards. Let's say—for the sake of argument—that I'm exaggerating my symptoms just to get attention. While that doctor is busy dealing with me, three other people who actually need urgent care might walk through the door. How is he supposed to know if I’m a genuine emergency or if I'm just making things up to get my way? He can't triage the rest while he's stuck on me.

Look, stop telling people to head to the ER for every little thing. There's a reason they call it "emergency" care. I doubt anyone would be thrilled to find their own loved one suffering just because someone thought they were being clever by trying to skip the line and bypass standard procedures.

If you think I'm just talking nonsense, go ahead and ask an ER doctor. They can tell you exactly what that looks like.

David Mitchell4 said:Look, I’m telling you how it works. At the ER, there’s a process called observation . If someone overstates their symptoms and they don't see an immediate clinical need, they'll just have them sit or lie down under observation—you'd know the term if you had any connection to emergency medicine. Meanwhile, the staff keeps handling other cases...

Also, doctors often have to step away to handle something else mid-treatment; that's just the nature of the ER. I’m not talking about someone coming in bleeding out from a gunshot wound and being left alone—that gets prioritized immediately. Anyways, you start adding phone numbers and specific details that weren't even part of the initial call. It's not like anyone calls 911 because they lost their glasses. But if there's an acute vision issue, they might go to the ER, sit, wait, and get seen in a few hours. You have to realize nobody wants to go to a hospital unless it's absolutely necessary, and no one died because a doctor at the ER admitted someone who, by your standards, shouldn't have been there.

We're all subjective. Our own problems always seem the most urgent. A doctor can tell a patient at the ER, "Go home and follow up with your primary physician," but the patient has every right to show up at the ER and wait until a doctor tells them otherwise. That’s what they're paying for.

vividsailor7 said:

David Mitchell4 said:Since I pay my health insurance premiums regularly every month, I expect service when I need it, not months down the line. This logic that favors the state budget at the expense of the patient makes zero sense to me...

You don't pay the health insurance, your employer does , unless you're self-employed, in which case you pay it yourself.

David Mitchell4 said:That’s basically a textbook ethics question from a philosophy class—is it okay to break into a pharmacy to steal life-saving medication for a sick person who can't afford it? My stance is clear when it comes to health, though I think we're drifting off-topic here. 😉

Now, people are going to nitpick this trivial example, but I would take the type of medication into account—say, insulin for Type 1 diabetes or statins.
But generally speaking, that specific example doesn't really tie back to the core of the argument.

David Mitchell4 said:

vividsailor7 said:You aren't paying for health insurance.Your employer is already doing exactly that.Unless you're running your own business—then you're essentially just paying yourself.

Spot on.

Look, when you start lecturing people like that, you should remember one thing: those employees are paying for that out of their own gross salary, not the employer's pocket.

I’ll probably get another warning for meddling in other people's business, but I can't just sit by while falsehoods are spread and people are being misled.

vividsailor7 said:Now, I’ll probably get flak for nitpicking over something trivial, but I still think we need to consider the specific nature of the medication. For instance, there is a massive difference when you're talking about insulin for Type 1 diabetes versus something like statins.
But honestly, that specific example doesn't really have much to do with the discussion at hand.

Of course it relates to the discussion, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion and their own ability to follow along.

vividsailor7 said:I see there's no point in arguing with any of you, much less with general practitioners, regarding how prescriptions are issued.

David Mitchell4 said:Look, I pay my own premiums and my supplemental insurance myself. There’s really no point in arguing with me—at the end of the day, I'm just looking to get the service I actually paid for. 😳

Nicholas Myers said:Do you honestly think healthcare services are instantly available everywhere else? Like people don't have to wait for exams in other countries?

mistyjackal842 said:I really agree with you on this. The doctors on this forum seem to unconditionally protect their own colleagues, even when they've made unforgivable medical mistakes. When I tried to write about my mother's tragic case—how her sepsis was neglected and left untreated—not a single doctor on this forum would even answer my questions about sepsis, not even via private message. I suppose it’s because my mother tragically passed away at Vinogradska Hospital last month. If she were still fighting for her life in the hospital, maybe they’d find it worthy to respond. I even received a message suggesting someone from that hospital might sue me, though I honestly have no idea on what grounds, since I haven't insulted or cursed anyone. But I stand by everything I say; I spent entire days right by my mother's side, so I saw everything firsthand. I actually come from a medical family—my mother was a physician, as was my father. We have plenty of medical books at home. The best one we have is that American book that doctors used to get for free back in the States. I actually reconstructed much of what went wrong during my mother's treatment using that very book. I know how to think logically; I studied logic all through high school and even had it as a subject during my finals. So, I didn't really need any help from the "esteemed" doctors on this forum.

Now I'm just waiting to be banned for making this post.