Defending doctors first, and then we'll talk about the system

"My time is just as important as the doctors'!"

This is not medical advice.

That subtitle is what I used to hear from retired men about 10 years ago. I understand where they’re coming from, however that’s not completely true. They of course had the right to be frustrated, and leave. There are not hundreds of people waiting to see the retired men, but there are hundreds waiting to see that specialist.

The original article was titled “Why haven’t you seen your x-rays?” That will come out later this week. The more I thought about it, I needed to do this first. Stay tuned for a light hearted, but good article about hip problems for Valentines Day, then back to inflammatory rants on Wednesday.

The simple fact is that there are too many customers, and not enough nurses and doctors. There are many factors to that. I think most people understand why. But when you or your kid are sick, and you can’t get in, you don’t feel like being reasonable.

The Medical Industrial Complex wants you to be a customer. Being healthy means you won’t be a customer.

The doctor’s are overburdened by a gigantic system of bureaucracy and liability. They have hundreds of customers waiting to be seen. Maybe they only have 5-15 minutes to see you. There is a large percentage of customers that will not help themselves. Maybe the doctor suggested simple things like; drink more water, go for a walk, stop drinking 30oz of soft drinks (with 80 grams of sugar), etc.

What is the percentage of those customers that will not follow some easy recommendations? It’s pretty high. Now consider the paperwork this doctor needs to fill out, knowing you came for advice, but are not going to help yourself.

It must be pretty frustrating. It’s frustrating for you also, because you’re paying a fortune for that visit, to sometimes be ignored.

I need to see doctors. My kids need to see doctors. I am not against that. But if we collectively tried to NOT see the MIC, service and outcomes would improve.

How are you treated at most car dealerships? Like a customer, not a patient. They want your business, badly in some cases. Does the doctor always want more business? The doctor, who’s own health and personal life is suffering, because they are overwhelmed by the system? Not so much.

If we had less “customers” (patients), can you imagine how you’d be treated at the office? With the amount we pay for a medical appointment, they should be having you change into a cotton robe, recline with warm towels, served wine, and get a foot massage.

Let’s be customers less often. I’m not going to review that here, because we all know what’s already bad for us. And I’m not perfect, and certainly wasn’t in the past.

Don’t expect that the industry can always help you, because sometimes they can’t.

Sometimes you have to help yourself.