Re: The level of hate that the right has for Obama, Is amazing.
Its government involvement that generally drives up the prices. Cost of tuition , health insurance and healthcare, housing even.
I'm not saying there aren't other reasons too but generally as soon as government gets involved the costs go up.
Call me crazy, but I think it MIGHT be a good idea to consider an alternative route altogether. A way to address tuition, healthcare, and even housing.
I am only throwing ideas out. Certainly they may be full of holes and problems I did not foresee, but just for the sake of good conversation, let's discuss possibilities to re-structure health care altogether in as much as it concerns the government and addresses the valid issues you so wisely pointed out.
Now, let me preface, it is somewhat in direct opposition to your opinion about anything the government touches causes the prices to raise. It's not that I disagree, because I don't. But I have an idea, that still involves the government, but in a different way, altogether.
I present my idea having observed the way healthcare is run in the military. First, let me share my observations of military healthcare from my personal experiences. Then, after that, I will tie my idea to it, so my idea might make better sense and easier to understand and then we'll will pick it apart and discuss improvements and possibilities to improve on the basic idea. Here we go.
1. Sailor gets sick.
2. Sailor requests "chit" for sick call and sailor is assisted or transported over to the medical side if they can't walk there on their own.
3. Sailor goes to sick bay.
4. Sailor checks in. Corpsman E3 behind counter takes "chit" pulls file, hands it to E4, who takes sailor examining room, takes vitals, and writes up symptoms, etc.
5. E4 hands clipboard with recorded info to E5, E5 checks ears, nose, throat, or whatever the complaint relates to. E5 sees the sailor has ear infection/broken bone/whatever, takes his report to a central desk with his report and recommendation.
6. Navy doctor reviews E5 report and recommendation, signs off on diagnosis, approves and signs prescription.
7. E5 returns to examining room and gives Sailor his prescription and schedules any follow appointments.
8. Sailor walks next door to pharmacy and gets his meds and eithe returns to work or whatever Doctor ordered.
9. Sailor NEVER sees actual doctor but his needs have been addressed and there is always a doctor on hand should the sickness rise to that level.
Keep in mind, even though the hospital has streamlined the process on minor illnesses/injuries, there is ALWAYS qualified staff on
hand, with all the modern gadgets, to handle most any medical situation.
So, here's my idea. As simple minded as it might be.
Preface: Government is spending gazillions dollars earmarked for healthcare in one form or another. That is a given. I suggest looking into spending that money differently in the public sector similar to the military business model.
1. Poor person on medicare or charity tax dollars, instead, is sent to a regional government "learning hospital."
2. The first year student at this "learning hospital," does the intake at the counter and passes that info to the second year student.
3. The second year student takes the patient to the examining room and takes vitals, etc., and passes info to the third year student.
4. The third year student looks deeper into the symptoms and decides if it should go to the fourth year or fifth year student, or straight to the top floor where the teaching physicians/doctors, for further review.
Now, I could go on and on regarding the steps and levels but I think you get my point.
All students would work in the stations equivalent to their experience. All students will receive a structured medical education, from Admitting to nursing assistant, to nurse, to doctor, to specialist (depending on where the student aspires to practice. All students will be provided a comfortable dorm and 3 meals tickets, per day, at the hospital cafeteria.
The students day breaks down to one part classroom, on part hands-on, actual work. They will have to sing for their supper but they will get to the level they want to get to, all the while providing a service, and not having to enter the public sector with a life burdening student loan. Educated AND experienced. Win-Win.
This idea addresses the housing, tuition issue and it provides acceptable healthcare, structured much like the military.
I think if the idea was better thought out and tweaked here and there. It would be money better spent. It is my opinion that the public sector sucks the government teat dry when ever the oppertunity presents itself and cannot be trusted to act in the public interest when it comes to our tax dollars.
Thoughts?
