Some people who read this blog may remember that last year I was looking for a new doctor. I had a good doctor but I felt he had social issues. He never asked me to take a single item of clothing off in the eight years that I saw him. He listened to my heart through my clothes and diagnosed me mainly by what I said my symptoms were. He also spent more time looking at his laptop than me. While I am an elder, I was in good enough health to ignore this. Then I decided it was time to change doctors. I live in a county where it is not easy to find a good doctor, a doctor who takes my insurance, a doctor who is still taking patients, and I also was hoping to find a woman doctor for a change.
After a six month's search I found my female doctor (a geriatrician but that is OK) and have been seeing her for about a year. Prior to changing to her, I had heard a rumor she was leaving but I ignored that, and sure enough, last week was my last appointment with her.
I asked her where she was going and she said to a medical practice up north affiliated with one of our Universities that maintained a better budget. She then opened up to explain that this county, in which I live, (very conservative and never going to raise taxes) was just too backward for her. Her heart patients had to drive almost two hours to the north to get decent care. She said that the elderly could not get decent care, elderly that were used to good health care, not poor elderly. County health support was nil and she felt she could no longer do her job. She also added that at least five doctors she knew were also job hunting outside the county further reducing our limited selection of doctors and putting strain on our one hospital.
Our county once had a surplus budget years ago and continues to have a record number of wealthy residents with the highest of incomes, mostly retired, but some working. What happened? Is it that we have a large population of very poor and uneducated people. Was it the recent recession from which it never recovered? Was it because the state moved education retirement funding responsibilities to the counties without warning? Is it because two of our seven elected county commissioners are owners of liquor stores rather than something reflective of a broader view of society? Is it this conservative county's refusal to even consider raising taxes as we plunge in tighter budgets?
Salaries of teachers have been flat for two years. How long before the more mobile and smart ones also head to parts up north putting our children at risk?
The county is in the process of supporting the development of a liquid natural gas facility within walking distance of many homes. No other facility of this kind exists so close to where people live in the United States. There were months of protests, but like Texas, these were overridden. Do they think/hope this will save the day? Maybe by blowing a number of taxpayers sky high? I wait to see how our conservative liquor store owners work this out. I am afraid it will be like sports stadiums that never create the job markets they promise while forcing the move of lower middle class home owners elsewhere.
No, I would not want to be Commissioner. Since I do not run, maybe I should not complain. Since I do not have a clear cut solution, maybe I should just sit down. But I would accept a ding in my taxes.
I understand your frustration. Indeed is a difficult time on many fronts to decide how to fight the issues facing us that are out of control. And, indeed they are out of control. A Return to Sanity is necessary, but how to proceed? Can't take on the world, so have to begin in our communities.
ReplyDeleteUnderstand about your doctor. Returning to a country home my new doctor
ReplyDeletehas never touched me :) listens and on computer. I asked once why he never checked my heart and he replied "you do not have a heart problem" - I thought how do you know if you never listen to my heart. I changed to a wonderful
female doctor, trained at Mayo Clinic, liked her so but then she quit taking
my insurance, so back to the casual one. He listens prescribes what I ask for
and thankful I have a RN daughter and do a lot of research. Also have excellent
specialists I go to occasionally and he always gives me a referral.
Fine at the moment but so different from my favorite doctor who knew me, family
but retired 10 years ago :) For physicals I did undress :)
Times have changed...
Oh man, it's depressing to read this. Even living where I do-a place where doctors also like living-it is difficult to find a doctor who is taking patients. I don't know what it will take to fix this broken system.
ReplyDeleteWe have a hard time finding doctors who will take a Medicare patient in the U.S. too. When I lived in Illinois, I had a doctor for a while who was just like yours. He did breast exams with a sheet covering everything. He also did everything through my clothes. I figured he was just shy. He also didn't know much about anything which is why I switched doctors too.
ReplyDeleteIt is getting harder to find a primary doctor, and you do have a right to state how you see the problems, and have elected officials who will listen to suggestions about how to fix it.
ReplyDeleteThings are tough and we can't have universal healthcare because that would mean someone who doesn't deserve it might get something for nothing. TV stations should start re-running the old Seseme Street shows. They tught little kids about this novel concept--sharing.
ReplyDeleteOur taxes are today at the same rate they were during the Truman administration. Our infrastructure is crumbling while budgets are being cut, but billions to fund wars and the military always get top priority.
ReplyDeleteI recently met a candidate for our city council. The first thing she mentioned to me was a recent tax increase. I responded that I was not anti-tax. I believed we needed to pay for things we wanted. She was taken aback and lamely agreed. I don't think I will vote for her.
ReplyDeleteTax is not a dirty word to me. I think we expect way too much out of government we at the same time we say we hate and don't want to pay for.
I am fortunate here in the Seattle area to have good health care. We have belonged to a non-profit health maintenance organization for many years. Right now, today, my son is in the hospital with a badly broken ankle suffered last night while he was playing soccer. He has a basic medical plan through the ACA State exchange. He is getting expert care at our premier trauma hospital. Taxes someone else paid will be paying for his care. Thank goodness.
I have been looking for the right doctor for years. I once found a woman doctor I liked (she was my foster care client's doctor) and just when I was going to make an appointment for myself she left. I still think about her.
ReplyDeleteI feel lucky to have found a woman internist who is interested in Geriatrics. I hope she doesn't leave. She's kind and sensible. We are lucky here in this small town. Two hospitals that have become a kind of a medical center for a large farming community. Plus there is a free clinic and family clinic with dental that charges on a sliding scale. People with big emergencies are still flown to Spokane WA or Portland OR but all in all we are really fortunate.
ReplyDeleteDid this doc give you a few names and a referral or two.
ReplyDeleteYes, I was truly lucky to find a doctor who I trust, with a good system, and was taking new patients. She is young, and she only works part time. If I have an emergency, I will get sent to the ER where my Pulmonary doc works...full time. Poor guy.
You are in an important part of the country. There has to be someone there, one who cares and will take new patients. I'm so sorry.
You aren't a curmudgeon, you are just tired.
LOL
here's what I do not understand...why the wealthy who can afford a tax increase without it affecting their lifestyle are so vehement against it. the people in this country have become very selfish and the more they have, the more selfish they are.
ReplyDeleteBeing tight-fisted is coming back to bite that hand that doesn't feed.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid things will get worse before they'll get better.
ReplyDeleteEconomies are in for a major shakedown... globally.
As for medical care and finding the right professional.
Doctors on the whole exit the training system with high debt.
They want to maximize their earning potential and eliminate their debt.
That usually entails a move.
See, you connect the dots between public services and higher taxes and conclude it's worth it. Too many others are not willing to make the same choice and so entire counties or states lose out on good service.
ReplyDeleteWhere did the notion that because someone is wealthy, they owe the rest of us. If I work hard, and smart and make a fortune, it's on me. If I don't do that well, it's on me.
ReplyDeleteMore taxes won't solve the fiscal problems we have. Wise spending of what we have would help, regardless of ones political leanings.