Barriers to healthcare
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Posts: 6,651
Although access to health insurance is extremely important, it is only one aspect of the larger issue of access to healthcare. This discussion started last week in another thread, but I was reminded of it today.
A nurse from a rural clinic called me to schedule a patient, but I needed more information that the nurse didn’t have. She said she would have to drive out to the patient’s house to get the answers to my questions and then call me back (assuming the patient happened to be home when she got there). Then once I made the appointment, she would drive back to the patient’s house and tell her. Hopefully the patient would be able to make it at the time I scheduled. If so, since the patient doesn’t have a car or live remotely close to a bus line, she will have to arrange in advance for a medical transport service to come pick her up and drop her off at her appointment with us (2 hours away). Then, when the appointment is over, she’ll have to wait for up to several hours more for them to take her back home again. Her lack of a phone or transportation is also going to affect how we treat her medical condition.
For me this served as yet another reminder that there are many, many social & economic obstacles to overcome for many people trying to obtain good, consistent healthcare.
I know I’ve said this before, but here are the first few components I thought of that are required for access to reliable healthcare:
1. A nearby doctor who has the (a) knowledge & (b) willingness to provide the healthcare you need
2. Knowledge of (a) the doctor and (b) his/her services and (c) how to make an appointment
3. (a) A ride to the appointment & (b) gas or bus money to pay for it
4. (a) Time off work and (b) school and (c) a babysitter so you can go to the appointment
5. The ability to get in to be seen in a timely manner
6. Money or insurance to pay for the (a) appointment and (b) prescriptions
7. (a) Knowledge & (b) time to (1) navigate the insurance system or (2) get on Medicaid
8. The ability to understand your medical options
9. (a) The ability to access services with neither the (1) clinic nor (2) the insurance company breaking your confidentiality, and (b) the knowledge of that ability
10. A nearby pharmacist who has (a) the prescriptions you need and (b) the willingness to dispense them
11. A ride to the pharmacy & gas or bus money to pay for it.... etc.
I guess I’m just curious: Do people really see insurance coverage as the only healthcare access issue or was it just the nature of the other thread that inspired dissension?
A nurse from a rural clinic called me to schedule a patient, but I needed more information that the nurse didn’t have. She said she would have to drive out to the patient’s house to get the answers to my questions and then call me back (assuming the patient happened to be home when she got there). Then once I made the appointment, she would drive back to the patient’s house and tell her. Hopefully the patient would be able to make it at the time I scheduled. If so, since the patient doesn’t have a car or live remotely close to a bus line, she will have to arrange in advance for a medical transport service to come pick her up and drop her off at her appointment with us (2 hours away). Then, when the appointment is over, she’ll have to wait for up to several hours more for them to take her back home again. Her lack of a phone or transportation is also going to affect how we treat her medical condition.
For me this served as yet another reminder that there are many, many social & economic obstacles to overcome for many people trying to obtain good, consistent healthcare.
I know I’ve said this before, but here are the first few components I thought of that are required for access to reliable healthcare:
1. A nearby doctor who has the (a) knowledge & (b) willingness to provide the healthcare you need
2. Knowledge of (a) the doctor and (b) his/her services and (c) how to make an appointment
3. (a) A ride to the appointment & (b) gas or bus money to pay for it
4. (a) Time off work and (b) school and (c) a babysitter so you can go to the appointment
5. The ability to get in to be seen in a timely manner
6. Money or insurance to pay for the (a) appointment and (b) prescriptions
7. (a) Knowledge & (b) time to (1) navigate the insurance system or (2) get on Medicaid
8. The ability to understand your medical options
9. (a) The ability to access services with neither the (1) clinic nor (2) the insurance company breaking your confidentiality, and (b) the knowledge of that ability
10. A nearby pharmacist who has (a) the prescriptions you need and (b) the willingness to dispense them
11. A ride to the pharmacy & gas or bus money to pay for it.... etc.
I guess I’m just curious: Do people really see insurance coverage as the only healthcare access issue or was it just the nature of the other thread that inspired dissension?
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
Health insurance is the greatest barrier to healthcare we have in this country.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
agreed
If you're referring only to private insurance, I think we might actually agree on something for the first time!
........
Well, on 2nd thought, I might have to give further consideration to your use of the word "greatest". I would say that poverty is the GREATEST barrier, and that encompasses the health insurance issue.