Originally posted by Goth
Medicboy, don't take this the wrong way.
I think a lot of problems extend from hospitals charging waaaaaay too much money to the people that have insurance and can pay their way. Look at doctors wages, nurse wages and even the wages of ambulance/emergency responders.
Doctors in all truth could cut their pay in half and still live nicely. However, one reason they charge so much is because of malpractice suits.
Nurses, skilled and educated as they are, are paid a heck of a lot of money. Why, because there is a shortage?
First responders, paid too much. You probably think I have no business talking about that, but in all actuality, I could have taken the EMT test after leaving the military and become one, but there is no way in hell I want to do that work. Is there a shortage of EMT's? I don't think so, but there is a lotta BS to put up as one.
Hospital equipment-outrageous costs and equally outrageous billings. This year alone I went through 4 MRI's, and if I had not had insurance I would have been a huge burden on someone else because those little 20 min tests are expensive....too expensive.
The whole health care system is fubar, and it starts with CEO's making too much. It might very well becoe federalised, and God help us if it does, but until prices come down I don't see it getting better. The industry needs to start self regulating itself.
Not taken the wrong way but I have a few statements.
1: There is a BIG diference between an EMT and a Paramedic. For the most part a basic EMT is a 1 semester course and covers basic-mid level first aid and basic scene management. There is no indepth A&P, and no invasive skills. They prolly do get paid a fair wage for 3 months of education and the risk involved. I am a paramedic. Becoming licenced as a paramedic takes 2+ years in most cases and in those 2 years there is about 4 years of college level corses crammed together. It is not just a supplement intended for fire fighters and cops (as the basic EMT course is intended) it is a profession. I am able to do things that only a MD can do in the hospital. I can make judgement calls and give meds with out consulting an MD (unlike nurses). I am almost always the one in charge of a medical scene because I am almost always the one with the most training. If I mess up there is a good chance that someone dies. So what is that worth??? For someone with all that training and 12 years experience here in Montana I make $9/hr with no benifits, not even vacation. Is that over paid???????????
2: My wife is an RN, she has spent her entire career in the ER and currently the ICU. She has a 2 year degree and about 8 years of total experience and she makes $21/hr with nice benefits. DO I think she is over paid?? No, She works very hard and earns every dime.
3: MD's: Have you any Idea how much of their lives these people give up??? I also work as a Tele tech at the local hospital and see how often they get called in, woke up and bothered when it come to their pt's in the hospital. 60 hrs a week is a vacation. They might be over paid but not that much.
4: How much hospitals charge... Ok going to try to keep this simple. Say Burger King is a hospital. They are mandated by law to give everyone who asks for food what ever they want and can't ask for payment at that time, they have to take info which might be real or not and bill later. As a consiquince huge numbers of people go there to eat and they only get on average 30% of what they bill. SO for a whopper value meal they usualy charge say.... $3.00. But soon they realize they are only collecting on average $0.90. Less than they pay for the stuff to make the meal. They have to raise the price to $10.00 so that they get their average $3.00 per meal and don't lose money... That is the price you pay for those that don't pay for them selves, you want the service to be there when you need it, so those that can pay have to pay for those that can't or wont.
