(10-21-2016 07:42 PM)dfarr Wrote:  

(10-21-2016 07:10 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(10-21-2016 08:15 AM)dfarr Wrote:  

(10-20-2016 09:53 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(10-20-2016 09:36 PM)dfarr Wrote:  Unfortunately not all medicine is like getting a boob job where you can shop around and take your time, but a lot of it is. You can't shop around much for heart bypass much or after a stroke, but you can for many things. Take my field for instance. I work in urology and there are very few urological emergencies. Kidney stones, while one of the most miserable things ever, are rarely in need of emergent surgery. Prostate cancer, bladder cancer, urinary incontinence are all things where you can take weeks to months to get treatment in most cases. I'd love for there to be a non-emergent price list, but it ain't gonna happen unless the free market returns to health care.

Until the day exists that when I get a cold and can visit... "Common Colds R US" and that business paradigm and others exists? The problem is not going to be solved. The medical industry has restricted competition like electricians, plumbers, hair stylists..ect..ect..ect. Competition not only for health insurance..but..services is the answer to this mess. There is no reason that private independent certification organizations...like UL can not be applied to the medical industry. No reason..other than the AMA standing in the way and limiting competition and filling the pockets of its members.

To be honest, if you're going to the doctor for the common cold then you're part of the problem

Sure..probably a bad analogy..but..I think you understand where I was going with this. There is no reason that competition for services can't be a part of the solution to lower over all health care costs and ease the high cost of insurance.

I agree. Unfortunately, in my experience I've been less than impressed with the care given in urgent care places. Competition is also limited due to the number of docs. Take my office for instance. We are the only urology office for a general area of about 80-100k people. We have no competition.

Im not sure if this is a national trend...but..our local hospital has actually opened up an urgent care facility in an attempt to eliminate "non emergency" cases from the ER. Even if a patient comes in on an ambulance they can be triaged to the urgent care facility. I expect this could have some impact on costs.

(10-21-2016 06:19 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(10-21-2016 04:15 PM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-21-2016 02:24 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(10-21-2016 08:15 AM)dfarr Wrote:  To be honest, if you're going to the doctor for the common cold then you're part of the problem

Too many people just want that magic pill or the magic spray that soccer teams use.

BTW, what exactly is that magic spray?

lol.... it's a bit of a joke... there are probably thousands of videos on youtube where a soccer player flops and writhes around in pain and the trainer comes out, sprays his leg and he's suddenly fine. It's not a real thing...

Thanks, I thought maybe it was some sort of numbing spray but your explanation seems more plausible.