Friday, October 23, 2009
Just for you Chad
So my brother Chad and his wife Rebecca (or Reebockers as I call her) got a new kitten named "Laser Cat." This video just makes me laugh for some reason. If you haven't seen it yet... it's just... awesome.
Oh, and here is the reason for the incredible name!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Rich
This is a comment posted by Rich. i love hearing what Rich has to say about health care reform because he's way smarter than me... But I totally agree. Should the private sector come up with a better option? YES. Has the private sector come up with a better option or will it come up with a better option? As long as the bottom line, not patient care is the goal, No way! And I think that that distinction is what makes it the private sector.
"So when exactly is the private sector going to kick in and do something?
I don't know exactly what this guy's motives are but even if he rejects the public option, we NEED government intervention to promote change in health insurance. Health Insurance profits have gone up more than 200% since 2001.
Private companies answer to profits not people. So if we want change we need the government to pass good reform.
I seriously doubt that the 85% of Americans with insurance are happy with it.
And once again, a jab at Canadian health care. It's true, America is NUMBER ONE with cancer survival. A testament to how awesome US health care is in emergency and intensive care. But here's info from the US Congressional Office on the difference between Canada and the US:
"Results for Canada. Canada's system of national health insurance is often cited as a model for the United States. But an analysis of 2001 to 2003 data by June O'Neill, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, and economist David O'Neill, found that overall cancer survival rates are higher in the United States than in Canada:
For women, the average survival rate for all cancers is 61 percent in the United States, compared to 58 percent in Canada.
For men, the average survival rate for all cancers is 57 percent in the United States, compared to 53 percent in Canada."
So rather than making it sound like Canada is a death bed of cancer, especially for women. Let's take into account that the difference is between 3-4%.
And hold on a tic... if 3-4% makes a difference, how about this stat:
Probability of not reaching age 60:
Canada: 9.5%
United States: 12.8% "
What do you think??
"So when exactly is the private sector going to kick in and do something?
I don't know exactly what this guy's motives are but even if he rejects the public option, we NEED government intervention to promote change in health insurance. Health Insurance profits have gone up more than 200% since 2001.
Private companies answer to profits not people. So if we want change we need the government to pass good reform.
I seriously doubt that the 85% of Americans with insurance are happy with it.
And once again, a jab at Canadian health care. It's true, America is NUMBER ONE with cancer survival. A testament to how awesome US health care is in emergency and intensive care. But here's info from the US Congressional Office on the difference between Canada and the US:
"Results for Canada. Canada's system of national health insurance is often cited as a model for the United States. But an analysis of 2001 to 2003 data by June O'Neill, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, and economist David O'Neill, found that overall cancer survival rates are higher in the United States than in Canada:
For women, the average survival rate for all cancers is 61 percent in the United States, compared to 58 percent in Canada.
For men, the average survival rate for all cancers is 57 percent in the United States, compared to 53 percent in Canada."
So rather than making it sound like Canada is a death bed of cancer, especially for women. Let's take into account that the difference is between 3-4%.
And hold on a tic... if 3-4% makes a difference, how about this stat:
Probability of not reaching age 60:
Canada: 9.5%
United States: 12.8% "
What do you think??
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Religious Freedon
If you haven't seen it yet, you should check out this talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks at BYU-Idaho. The talk discusses the constitutional right of freedom of religion and discusses the churches stance on gay marriage. It is a powerful and very interesting talk!
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/religious-freedom
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/religious-freedom
You know you're a Dad when...
So, Cole woke up about 4 times last night... we kept helping him go back to sleep and then i found out, at 6:30, that he had pooped in his sleep and that is why he kept waking up. So I got him up, changed his diaper, changed Gracie's diaper, and then took both kids downstairs to watch 101 Dalmations on Youtube with a kid on each knee. We watched the movie on one computer and I tried to study on my laptop while I wiped Gracie's spit up with my hand and wiped it on my pants and both kids farted on me at the same time... and I didn't think anything of it until I got to school and missed them.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Updates and thoughts
I chatted with an orthopedic surgeon last night, he was a pretty young (35ish) guy, not married, no family, just working and being a surgeon... and he hated his job! He said that the main problem with the system right now is that we (doctors) have to take an "us against them" mentality. He said that every patient is a potential lawsuit so you have to work, not to take care of the patient, but to do what will make them happy and not sue you, but they might sue you anyway. How can health care be administered well if patient care has to take second place behind covering your butt!? In order for any health care system implemented to work, malpractice has to be reformed.
That is actually one reason why I want to practice in Canada. People in Canada are just different, they aren't looking to sue doctors for the smallest thing. I don't even know what it is really, but the attitude is different. I mean, my doctors have messed up before, they have misdiagnosed broken limbs and other things and we didn't sue, we went to a different doctor or said, oh well, I guess he is human too! There is no excuse for negligence or malicious intent, but the reasons that people in the US sue doctors are absolutely ridiculous and the fact that they win those lawsuits says something about the whole system.
So, what could be done to make health care better? I don't know, but I have been talking to people recently about the proper role of Government (inspired mainly by Mike Vedomske, although he didn't say anything, but his conservative views sear my sole). There is a company here called Qliance that charges about $50 a month to take care of all routine health care needs, labs, etc but doesn't cover any emergency or hospital care. I think this is a great idea, that you can pay a small amount and have all of the routine and preventive things covered, but then you have to pay a million dollars to be covered in the hospitals. is this a step in the right direction? I think so, but it's only a step. I think that the market can and should bring some option besides the government paying to take care of everybody, but until someone brings an affordable option with the intention of taking care of a large group of people (mainly primary care with the patient centered medical home model) that is not established to make millions of dollars but to pay a decent salary to the people who start it, the government is out only option really. Which stinks!
So somebody please come forward with a better option, the people need it, and the government doesn't need the added responsibility to take care of our health...
That is actually one reason why I want to practice in Canada. People in Canada are just different, they aren't looking to sue doctors for the smallest thing. I don't even know what it is really, but the attitude is different. I mean, my doctors have messed up before, they have misdiagnosed broken limbs and other things and we didn't sue, we went to a different doctor or said, oh well, I guess he is human too! There is no excuse for negligence or malicious intent, but the reasons that people in the US sue doctors are absolutely ridiculous and the fact that they win those lawsuits says something about the whole system.
So, what could be done to make health care better? I don't know, but I have been talking to people recently about the proper role of Government (inspired mainly by Mike Vedomske, although he didn't say anything, but his conservative views sear my sole). There is a company here called Qliance that charges about $50 a month to take care of all routine health care needs, labs, etc but doesn't cover any emergency or hospital care. I think this is a great idea, that you can pay a small amount and have all of the routine and preventive things covered, but then you have to pay a million dollars to be covered in the hospitals. is this a step in the right direction? I think so, but it's only a step. I think that the market can and should bring some option besides the government paying to take care of everybody, but until someone brings an affordable option with the intention of taking care of a large group of people (mainly primary care with the patient centered medical home model) that is not established to make millions of dollars but to pay a decent salary to the people who start it, the government is out only option really. Which stinks!
So somebody please come forward with a better option, the people need it, and the government doesn't need the added responsibility to take care of our health...
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
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