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Richard
You and me both!
Richard
Richard
Richard
What isn't hazardous to us old geezers?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
While cold weather can constrict blood vessels, however if properly warmed up and properly clothed the work performed can keep the body warm enough.
2. Using only the arms while standing in an upright position can cause "pooling" of the blood in your legs and feet.
Shoveling snow while standing in an upright position results in a very small portion of the driveway being shoveled. most people move their legs walking around while shoveling.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
LOL Don't forget to call your doctor afterwards ... to brag.
I was just thinking about this, who actually throws the snow over their shoulder? I don't think I have seen many do that. I usually just sccop it up and toss it forward off the sidewalk or driveway, not lifting it to high.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Richard - I have kept manual labor to an absolute minimum. Just had to clear an extra little bit of width at the driveway apron and one of my 9 year olds really did most of that. She helped get the van unburied as well.
For this sort of storm we really lucked out. Because of the ocean temp it started as slush, didn't start really snowing until midnight and was done buy 6 AM.
While on the subject of grocery stores... please people, park your grocery carts on one side of the isle, or the other. And be aware of your surroundings the same as if you were stranded in the parking lot. Don't just stand in the middle of the isle like a melting glacier, other people would like by. I'll give you a few seconds ,nudge close, and then if still oblivious I'll give a
nice "excuse me". But, it really shouldn't have to come to that should it?
"Serenity now... Serenity now". O.k, pet peeves vented and discussed. I can cancel my psychotherapist session for tomorrow. :lemon: :P
Richard
You better keep that appointment. I can tell that today's session didn't go well. :P
Richard
Serves him right!
Back in the 1970's my Dad had a client who came in and asked him to probate her husband's estate. It seems that her husband had been hospitalized for a minor surgical procedure and one of the orderlies screwed up his oxygen supply- the guy ended up in a coma in the ICU. He lingered there for 30 days and died. Dad told the widow she had a good malpractice case but the lady said "Nothing will bring him back, I don't want to deal with a lawsuit."
The hospital quickly changed her mind when it billed her for over $50,000 for the 30 days her husband was in the ICU. Needless to say, the resulting malpractice case cost the hospital considerably more than the ICU bill that they should have eaten...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Richard
I can't call an unknown number. :confuse: Besides, I do email you at times.
Richard
Last Spring, while recovering from that "mild" heart attack in Snake's fair city, one of the Drs (seems like I had a gaggle of them watching over me) asked if it would be OK to do a battery of tests on me at Northwestern's expense. This is after I got my heart "tune-up" (stents). This Dr went onto explain that Northwestern is a "teaching" and "research" hospital, that my procedure went particularly well, as did my response to it. And, that I personally presented a unique opportunity to evaluate their processes to incorporate into their R&D/teaching.
Not one to pass up an opportunity to "make a deal", I told the nice DR that I appreciated his help, and his offer to do some research on me at "no charge". But, I also pointed out that I was, for all intents and purposes, a free guinea pig. Afterall, they have to pay for cadavers. What's a living person worth to poke and prod?
DR left, saying he did not have the authority to offer me any sort of compensation, but that I should do it to further their research.
My response....."I may be in a weakened state but I'm not feeling that right now, but bring someone in who can make such a decision."
A couple of hours later, the main chief head honcho Doc comes sauntering over to my beautiful suite (my ICU room) with his entourage (other Docs who couldn't be any more obvious how much they wanted to kiss chief Doc's derriere). Chief Doc reiterated how it would be a wonderful, humanitarian gesture on my part to give them permission to do some sort of tests, that were obviously not on the regular list of tests normally accepted after having stents put in.
I was extremely appreciative of what these Docs did for me. And, I was very thankful to the supreme deity to have spared my life. However, I do know that both myself, and my insurance company is going to be sent a very large bill, probably one that was tremendously inflated (i.e. thinking about the charge for the lovely half pajama evening wear they were sure to overinflate charges for).
Time for a little horse trading.
"OK, what are these tests (a non-prescribed MRI, even more blood taken for something I didn't understand, and an x-ray for some reason I didn't understand)." Allegedly, all this could be done in a 2 hour window and would be extremely helpful to Northwestern's research.
"I don't want to see a bill."
DOC-"No, these tests would be at the hospital's expense".
ME-"No, I mean no bill ever hits my mailbox. No co-pay....no deductible...no money out of my pocket for anything."
DOC (stammering a bit)-"Well, that is highly unusual." Uncomfortable silence for about 30 seconds. "But, I think I can make that work."
That was last May. Haven't seen one bill, not even one piece of correspondence from any of the Drs or the Hospital since!
I know, not a car story, but it did have a negotiation hint to it!
Bikers have heart attacks too. Know of an area coach who was athletic himself. Played basketball. Stayed fit. He rode his bike 20 miles away and more regularly.
One day he had a massive heart attack when he stopped to talk to someone along the road.
One just never knows what the old ticker might do.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Biancar, her hubby and my family had a very nice time.
i will grant you she was only a few blocks away...
How much gg? I'm guessing around $500 saved. Not bad for 2 hours work as a guinea pig.
Heart attack, stents, CCU, recovery.. I'm guessing $5K or more out of pocket, even with comprehensive medical insurance...
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Actually, it would have been Ambulance, Hospital, ICU (my entire stay was in ICU), Stents procedure, meds, Drs consultation, etc. My out-of-pocket would have probably been at least $5K, over and above Blue Cross.
They spend at least that much every month on me. Thank goodness for insurance.
My co-pay for him is $30, out of a $175 bill for 5 minutes of conversation, taking blood pressure, and asking me how I feel (great, thank you very much).
Youngest guy in my ward while I was in ICU (yes, I wandered the ICU trying to see if I was the one in worse, or best shape out of everyone there) was 33. He had a quadruple bypass. He had been there 3 days prior to my getting there. He was weak, but saw me walking around and motioned for me to come in an talk to him (we still email back and forth....he's doing great, too)!
Anyway, he was concerned about his deductible and how he would pay it. Being a young(er) guy, apparently he didn' have much of a cash cushion.
His out-of-pocket ended up being $12K. Not certain what his insurance coverage was.
As I told him, he's young enough that he can pay that off. And, that it's like paying off a car (how do you like that tie-in
Between chemo and procrit the doctor bills a ton but I pay $10 a week to see him. I'm at the doctor (the specialist) every darn week unless he goes out of town.
Nice guy and a good office but this is nuts. What you gonna do?
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Everybody is pointing at someone else, but no one is owning up to the issue.
I think everyone should be paid on a performance basis. If a Dr can't cure your ailment within a week, his/her fee gets cut in half. If someone dies within a week of entering a hospital, or being discharged from the hospital, the hospital gets nothing. Any drug that doesn't perform as prescribed, to anyone, is free.
If any Dr, hospital, drug, ends up making the patient worse, instead of better, the offending party owed the patient $100,000. If a lawyer is involved, and the lawyer loses the case, the lawyer owes the patient AND the entity he's suing, $25,000.
Any insurance company that doesn't pay a patient's bill within 30 days, regardless of the reason, has to pay 2X the bill amount (3X for 3 months late, etc).
oops. yeah. For some reason I was thinking you were being covered by your auto insurance... with a $500 deductible.
Would have cost $0 (Zero dollars) in Canada, with or without Blue Cross!
And without volunteering to be a guinea pig...but it was very nice of you to help the medical field.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
We put the bill on Visa and had a check for the full amount (not even a deduction of copay!) before we got the card statement - heck, before we got home!
BTW - in calculating what they spend on me in a month I'm using what they bill. I know Blue Cross does not pay that much. More of the "no, that guy is why this is so expensive" thing.
I agree, but when it comes out of your taxes it doesn't seem as bad as having to write that big check (or as we say in Canada, c h e q u e) all at once. It's the same, only it feels a little better.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Kind of like buying an extended warranty on a car. You pay up front and you may never use it but if something happens, you're damm glad you bought it.
See, we CAN stay on topic!
There are huge misconceptions by the public at large about physicians, and it angers me. I have classmates who are going into Medical Malpractice, and after hearing some of them speak, I cannot even look them in the eye. The public likes to point the finger at everyone except themselves. Guess what? When we stop trying to make a quick buck because we didn't like an outcome, even if the Doctor did everything right, the system will begin to improve.
I'll leave things at that. The rest of my opinions on this are not appropriate for this forum nor would anyone agree with me.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Some illnesses & injuries just can't be fixed, no matter what the best physician does. So, I'm pretty much in disagreement that a hospital shouldn't get paid if the patient worsens there, or dies there, or dies after discharge. Come in with a terminal brain tumor, have $50K in tests to diagnose it... not the hospital or physician's fault that it's terminal.
Also, if we're gonna implement physician and hospital liability for some things that *may* be *slightly* under their control, then I think the flipside should include patient liability for their part in creating extra costs. 5'8", 400 lbs, 35 yrs old, and you have heart problems? You pay double. Not picking on the overweight in particular... just an example that came to mind. Many treatments and procedures are made WAY harder when they involve a patient who ignores all reasonable health-preserving practices. Many procedures (such as surgeries) are billed per-procedure rather than hourly, when in fact it takes a LOT longer to deal with someone who has self-created health issues.
I think the system will improve dramatically if EVERYONE, including the patient, provides the best health care possible to the patient.
(I too will stop ranting, but didn't want to leave 28firefighter hangin' out there all on his own.)
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Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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We've had long discussion on vacuum cleaners, juicers, watches etc etc. Say what you want. Nobody ever agrees with me either. But, that don't stop me. :P
Population is getting older, living longer. That will only get worse (actually better) as the average age marches upward while more and more diseases are either curbed (like HIV) or cured (not so long ago, polio). Everyone wants the other group, people, profession, company, to give in, while no one will. It's amazing what can happen if hospitals, insurance companies, lawyers, Drs, Nurses (the true unsung heroes and heroines), and yes, even patients, put aside their "gimme-gimme" attitude, when everyone has skin in the game and understands that not every patient is going to be profitable.
Kind of like the tax laws. Everybody gripes about them, but no one wants to give up their particular deduction (personally, I like a simple flat tax). Federal, State and municipalities are afraid they might miss out on another nickel. Taxpayers are afraid they might have to pay a nickel more than the next guy (sounds like Isell's customers).
But, that's another debate for another Sales Front Line tangent. :surprise:
That is exactly what it is like. Our medical plan is called insurance and that is all it really is. Overall, it benefits poorer people the most, probably costs more overall, but at least there is a good chance you won't get a crushing medical bill.
I say a good chance because there could be some things not covered. The government considers "liberation treatment" for MS to stilll be experimental, and so will not cover the cost. If people go to another country to have it done, and there are complications, doctors here won't give help.
But, this does seem fair considering the treatment is very experimental.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
So there!
That is a great line because it is so true. Someone can smoke two packs of cigarettes a day and take up lots of resources, while a poor innocent person who needs a hip replacement through no fault of there own waits to get a new hip.
It was nice of you to step in Kirstie, and the fact of the matter is both firefighter and GG made statements that have truth in them. The system needs to be fixed up. One big problem in your country are legal settlements. We can sue, but it happens a lot less and the amounts aren't as great. Also, not nearly as many contigency cases. It's an eye opener watching all the ambulance chasing lawyers advertise on the Buffalo TV stations....and they all sound like such nice guys.
Speaking about cars....there's this guy on Buffalo TV:
"If you have been hurt in a car, call William Mattar"
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
They had a big to do around here a bunch of years ago when they were going to allocate funds based on mortality rates. The theory was they'd be rewarding better care until they found out the folks with the highest mortality rates were..... (wait for it) - hospices! Doh! Back to the drawing board.
Happened to get a bill from my blood doc today because I missed one copay apparently. Now, I am there every week and pay them close to $500 in copays a year so you might think that the easier and cheaper thing would be to just ask for it next time, but no - they send a bill.
Anyway, the bill does show one thing - they bill $150 for the visit, accept $47 dollars from Blue Cross and "write off" the rest. I'm sure their accountant has this whole thing set up so that the office has no income. What a system.
They have tangents here...since when?
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
My sister, not my BIL who would never say a bad word, has at times expressed his frustrations to me.
One thing that seems like it needs to be pointed out is that most people don't have a lot of money and don't have great medical coverage, if they have any at all.
Medicare and state programs just can't keep up, so someone else (us) ends up making up the difference.
I just think it's a cost people like (us) need to bear to take care of our society.
Social Security is pretty much the same thing.
I don't want some older person to have to live in a cardboard box because they can't afford an apartment.
The SS deduction rate just dropped. I could use the money to put towards a new car, but I think I am going to put it in my 401k, instead.
I'm likely to hold onto the money as well.
You are also correct, that this is an extremely polarizing topic and one that I find myself getting into far more than I should with people so ignorant that I wonder how they can function. When I hear classmates and at one time, friends, make comments about all doctors making $400k a year and not actually caring for their patients, it takes all self-restraint I have in me not to fly off the handle. There are some that are in this business strictly for the profit, and those with that attitude ruin the reputation for those that truly care.
My parents work 7 days a week - my dad is on-call 24/7 as a solo practitioner and hospice provider. The last true vacation they've taken? 6.5 years ago. I hope I can care for my own future clients as much as they care for those they serve.
Back to your regularly scheduled programming.