Tales of two treatments
Imagine yourself in a situation that requires you to have a heart-related
surgical procedure. That’s not a problem for some because some are armed with
health insurance. In this particular situation, however, you are not.Just try to get a doctor to see you or do anything for you if you don’t have health
insurance — much less to perform a potentially lifesaving procedure. One of
these “healers” of modern medicine recently saw one of his patients. The patient
was a man of some years, in need of a replacement pacemaker battery, a man who
had just started a business of his own and was consequently without
insurance.
“Well, you’d better get some insurance,” said the man of medicine.
This he intoned with the ease of brushing lint from his coat. He charged the man
$150 and walked away.
He offered no assistance whatsoever and refused his patient even a certificate of having had a physical exam. That vital piece of paper would be intended to allow him to continue to contract out his work, in order to pay for the high cost of individual health insurance.
The ways of human compassion, caring, helping someone in need and doing what is morally right and good have given way to salivation for the almighty dollar. It has
turned physicians into puppets.
Physician, heal thyself.
Denise Miller - IndependenceNext to Ms. Miller's Letter, ran the following:
A few weeks ago my wife, Elena, slipped on ice and fell. Her arm began to throb and swell.
I called Overland Park’s paramedics, who arrived within minutes. They looked at the arm and advised us to go to an emergency room. I had recently gained employment here, but as yet had no insurance coverage.
My neighbor suggested an X-ray. I called Dr. Ragan Fairchild at Zafer Chiropractic. She took the X-ray, which showed the humerus broken. Dr. Fairchild gave us the X-ray and urged us to go to the Shawnee Mission Medical Center emergency room.
We arrived, showed the X-ray and advised that we had no insurance. My wife was admitted immediately. She was nervous and scared, as she had never been in a hospital, had never had an injection, was in pain and does not have a total understanding of English.
Dr. Ryan C. Reeves and his crew were speedy, compassionate and understanding.
They explained what needed to be done and patiently waited for translations. Problems arose during the casting, and Elena had to be sedated.
Shawnee Mission Financial Assistance personnel are making realistic arrangements about the bill. Believe me, this would never have happened when we were living in Los Angeles.
Marcus Purcell - Overland Park
First of all, Ms. Miller, the person that you write about needs to make an appointment at Swope Parkway Health Services and see a physician there. An EKG will be performed in the office, and if follow-up is needed, the nurse will schedule an appointment with Truman Medical Center's cardiology department. Yes there will be a wait, but the patients needs will be met.
