My Take on Socialized Medicine

So, this is a common issue in politics/society right now. Since I'm a doctor it will be a huge impact on my life in more than one way. There are pros and cons to socialized medicine but overall, I'm against it. First of all, we already have more than one form of socialized medicine, it's called Medicaid, Medicare, and County Hospitals. Yes, patients with medicaid can usually get multiple health services with very little work, however the reimbursement rate for medicaid visits is incredibly low and if a physician only sees medicaid patients there is almost no way they can make a living and be an effective physician. This is because they have to see so many patients in one day they don't have the time to spend with each patient to figure out what is really wrong. Also, there are multiple other services to help promote health. Children and families can get vaccines at the County Health Department for very cheap without paying a co-pay for the doctor and it's the same vaccine. This isn't ok for babies because they need to be seen every few months to make sure they are growing ok, but it's perfectly fine for older children who are normal. There are other services for families that have special needs children that may not qualify for medicaid but don't make enough money for private health insurance. Most people just don't know about them. Social workers are way underpaid and are of great help when trying to get cheaper care/assistance for kids. Like I said before, there are always county hospitals. Plus if a child gets sick and needs to be hospitalized there is no prerequesite of having insurance. All children get care, doesn't matter their ability to pay. Also, most doctor's offices will make discounts for parents/patients that have to pay with cash and will work out payment plans if necessary. I may only be talking about kids, it's really what I know, but I also know that this pertains to adults as well. One of the pros of socialized medicine is all people get health insurance. Con, if everyone has health insurance it means everyone has to have a primary care physician and we don't have that many doctors in the United States. It also means that more people will be seeking health care and this will lead to a further shortage of hospitals/doctors/nurses. Yes, I think we should take care of people, but it isn't physically possible to care for all people in the United States. The wait list to be seen/have procedures would become astronomical. Also, it would become about the greater good for all and doing everything to save one patient would very likely quickly become the abnormal thing to do. This is already happening overseas in other very large/very westernized countries. They don't ressucitate extremely premature babies because the chance of them being productive members of society and let alone living is so low. They also don't let people live on ventilators for a long time like we do now. Some of these things may actually promote quality of life, but I think that the patient's family and the patient themselves should have the right to choose this, not the government.

Ok, I'm off my soap box for now. If anyone has their own opinion feel free to share. 

Until!

So it's been a while.....

Life has been crazy! The life of an intern is so busy. Add that to being married and it gets even more busy. I feel like I work constantly. I had this weekend off and it has been wonderful. Sleeping late, spending time with Jonathan, doing things I enjoy, has been a nice change. I love my job. The children are so incredibly sweet and it's so nice to watch them get better and go home from the hospital. I have a few patients in particular that I have become really attached to. They are patients that have chronic health problems and spend weeks to months at a time in the hospital. It amazes me how much joy they have for life when they endure multiple procedures, IV starts, blood draws and sick days. Some of these kids have spent more time in the hospital than they have at home. The fact that they are sick breaks my heart, but seeing them smile each day is such a joy. I love that I get to act silly, make faces, and dance around to make kids smile and laugh. We (the pediatric residents) get to dress up for Halloween and we have decided to be Superheros. I'm going to be Supergirl. I have been making my costume all weekend and after Halloween I will post pictures of all of us. Life is going well though. Jonathan is still looking for a job closer to home, the drive is getting old. Well, I must go finish my costume. 

Until!

Mom is home!

My mom went home from the rehab facility today! She still has a great deal of rehab to do but this is such a huge blessing. Thank you for all of the prayers.

Tribute and Praise!

My mom was taken off the ventilator at 9:30 last night and is doing well. They have her alternating between oxygen and a BiPap machine which provides constint pressure support for her lungs. She is talking today, and her mind is definitly doing well. Her funny/sarcastic/caring self is back. I have missed talking to her dearly and was so happy to see her awake last night and be able to hear her talk today. Please continue to pray for her recovery as there are still many obstacles in the way.

Her website is: www.caringbridge.com/visit/debbiecox

Tribute to my Mom: I decided to list a bunch of words that I believe describe my mom. Too bad I'm not a walking thesauras because I would have many more.
Here Goes: Mom, Grandma, Sister, Friend, Kind, Caring, Loyal, Trustworthy, Sarcastic, Empathetic, Selfless, Giving, Good, Big Heart, Worries, Smart, Strong, Proud, Passionate, Loving, Amazing, Beautiful, Talkative, Resourceful, active, and all around wonderful! She is the greatest woman I have ever known and I am so glad that God has been healing her.

Until!

website for my mom

My family has set up a website for my mom. It's www.caringbridge.com/visit/debbiecox
Please continue to pray for her and leave messages on her site for encouragement. I appreciate all that you are doing.

Update

Yesterday my mom was diagnosed with Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). This diagnosis carries with it a 55% chance of survival. There is nothing the doctors can do to prevent it or to cure it. They can only support the patient while their body heals itself. This was the diagnosis we were praying would not occur. Yesterday was very rough due to this and the fact that last night she seemed to be taking a turn for the worse. At one point we were asked to leave because her blood pressure was so low, her oxygen sats were quickly falling and they were taking the crash cart into her room with lots of people just in case. Today she seems to be doing better and hopefully she is steadily improving from here on out. We are all emotionally and physically exhausted and it is making it hard to be patient with the doctors, situation and each other. We are continuing having problems dealing with my dad, who during all of this show's very little true remorse for the things said to my mom in the past. During this time we are also trying to figure out how to pay my parents electric bill so the electricity will remain on, the water bill and a number of other things that are now in the legal channels and my dad says he has nothing to do with. Maybe I shouldn't be talking about this here, but I need somewhere to vent without venting to my sister or my husband, both of which are amazing. It amazes me how the strong people in the family really show up when things are tough and the people that should be being the strong ones turn out to dissapoint you. I am getting so exhausted and my prayer is that I am able to rest at night and know that the doctors and nurses are taking care of my mom and that she will still be there in the morning. Next post will be a brief update and a tribute to my mom, who happens to be one of the greatest women I have ever known.

Until~

Praise and Prayers

Today my mom appears to be doing a little bit better. Not a whole lot, but a little bit, and I will take what we are given. Her x-ray showed a small amount of improvement from yesterday. Today is the first day that it has looked better. She is requiring less medicine to keep her blood pressure up and her O2 sats are better today than they have been all weekend. She is still on the ventilator and today she needed a blood transfusion. The longer on the ventilator the more complications we can come across. I am praying that in the next few days she will be able to come off the ventilator and start to wake up. There are so many things I would like to tell her, such as how she is the greatest mother that anyone could ever ask for. I find myself driving home from the hospital and wanting to call her phone to talk to her but then I realize that she can't answer and it makes me so sad. I appreciate all the prayers and I know that they are the reason she is getting better. Please continue to pray for her and for our strength as we continue to endure long hours of waiting.