Impeding changes to our Health Care system

[richlevy]

I still find this shocking. This company treats people in hotspots all over the world. What's amazing is the level of need in Los Angeles. For a large segment of the population, America is a third world country when it comes to health care.

When Remote Area Medical, the Tennessee-based organization running the event, decided to try its hand at large urban medical services, its principals thought Los Angeles would be a good place to start. But they were far from prepared for the outpouring of need. Set up for eight days of care, the group was already overwhelmed on the first day after allowing 1,500 people through the door, nearly 500 of whom had still not been served by day’s end and had to return in the wee hours Wednesday morning.
The enormous response to the free care was a stark corollary to the hundreds of Americans who have filled town-hall-style meetings throughout the country, angrily expressing their fear of the Obama administration’s proposed changes to the nation’s health care system. The bleachers of patients also reflected the state’s high unemployment, recent reduction in its Medicaid services for the poor and high deductibles and co-payments that have come to define many employer-sponsored insurance programs.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Why are you shocked? Were you unaware that half (made up internet statistic) of Los Angeles is third word people who have invaded the US?

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Why are you shocked? Were you unaware that half (made up internet statistic) of Los Angeles is third word people who have invaded the US?

I wish we could have carded the people in that stadium. I'll bet most were US citizens or legal residents. You don't have to be an illegal immigrant to be poor and uninsured or under-insured in this country.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by richlevy

I wish we could have carded the people in that stadium. I'll bet most were US citizens or legal residents. You don't have to be an illegal immigrant to be poor and uninsured or under-insured in this country.

No you don't, but that in no way negates my statement that half of LA is third world.
There is also the allure of something free, that brings people out of the woodwork.
I'd bet that most of the problems they treated were not serious enough to compel the patient to make the effort to go to the ER or find a clinic.
Put together free, definite time/place, and some condition people keep saying, "I ought to get that checked out" but don't bother, and you have the perfect storm.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

...
I'd bet that most of the problems they treated were not serious enough to compel the patient to make the effort to go to the ER...

Good. ER is the most expensive care there is. Just getting people who use the ER as their primary care physician to go to a real PCP would save loads of money.