Coming Soon; Another New Hospital Near You!
Here in the Milwaukee area - as is happening all over the country - we learned yesterday of plans for yet another new hospital. The news reports centered on the need for another facility and the impact on costs. Perhaps a more pragmatic view of this news would be beneficial.
The notion that the best hospital is always the nearest hospital is laughable. And yet in an emergency, when you call 911, the chances are the local fire department responding will only take you to the nearest ER. Wouldn't it be prudent to be better rehearsed for such an event? Say I have an acute heart attack. On the one hand, the local fire responders could take me to a hospital only 8 minutes away but then I might lay waiting for the 'on call' team to arrive; a team that might be only slightly experienced to treat my condition. A better scenario might be to call a private ambulance company that drives me an extra 15 minutes to a facility equipped 24/7 to give me the best care possible. Despite the extra drive time, I could actually receive care faster and from a better team of experts.
Convenience is great when it comes to fast food restaurants or drug stores. But when you need critical hospital services should convenience be anywhere near the top of your selection criteria? "Shopping" for health care when you are unconscious strapped to a gurney is unlikely. But why can't you do your homework now? It could save the life of you or a loved one.
Labels: Boomer Wellness, Shopping for Health Care
posted by Jon Rauser @ 1:46 PM
1 Comments
As President & Owner of a successful health insurance brokerage in downtown Milwaukee - 
1 Comments:
Remember Milwaukee County General Hospital? Heaven forbid we discriminate and not let the indigent go to any hospital they choose. How about St. Michaels? Too many non-paying customers so they had to close. So if we continue to allow the non-paying clientele to utilize the resources provided by the paying customers it is only natural that rates will rise for those who can afford to pay (privately or with insurance). We as a society can agree to provide a moderate level of health care to those who can not afford it; but there is no reason to give freeloaders the same care as paying customers. That is where private enterprise must be allowed to function without undue burden from the public sector. Thanks to our government the private sector is being forced to open more facilities to generate more revenue from the paying patients in order to offset the cost of the non-paying patients. This makes me want to revoke my citizenship and become a non-paying patient so there would be no recourse against me.
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