What if There Were no Options?
What if, that is.
Geographically, you’re a physician in a very small, very rural but locally imporant hospital.
Hypothetically you have a patient who is having a heart attack.
Historically, the same patient already has bad heart disease.
Theoretically, he should go to a cardiologist immediately.
Realistically, he knows the cost will be devastating if he takes an ambulance or (worse) a helicopter.
Potentially, there is a bed in another town.
Unfortunately, there is no paramedic to manage him in the ambulance and won’t be for 24 hours.
Meteorologically, the weather is poor and no helicopter can fly.
Quite practically, he decides he’s had enough and opts for hospice.
Now that would be quite a story, wouldn’t it?
Good thing such things never happen in America, land of infinite healthcare!
Because that would be really, really unfortunate.
Edwin
If we had or could afford to have all (more than one, all…) mobile intensive units everywhere this would not be an issue or maybe a catch lab in all hospitals. How about it, universal healthcare for all everywhere, every time……….
Unfortunately, this guy is paying the same for his Obamacare as is the guy in downtown Boston. Same syx, same history, same everything, but mr rural can’t get to timely care, mr downtown is in the cath lab before an hour goes by.