Comments for Mad As Hell Doctors

Comment on Welcome by Dr, Van & Lois Hamilton

Dr, Van & Lois Hamilton — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:27:40 +0000

As a Primary Care Physician in Santa Barbara, CA, with the largest medical foundation clinic in the area, I have not realized an increase in my income for the past 15 years, while the cost of insurance premiums per person for our medical staff at the Santa Barbara Sansum Medical Clinic has more than doubled in the past 2 years, making layoffs and shorter work weeks necessary to support the rising cost. What is wrong with this picture? As a strong Single Payer advocate, I would be happy to participate in the MAHD program in Santa Barbara if you need a doc with 40 years of experience in the medical field, who has watched the advent of “for profit” health insurance nearly bankrupt our facility and keep patients priced out of affordable health care insurance. My wife, Lois, is the SB Chapter Leader for the Progressive Democrats of America, who are working tirelessly to bring Universal Single Payer Health Care to all Californians, since the national SP plan failed to even make it to the Health Care national debate!
Sign Me, One Helluva Mad As Hell Doc!

Comment on Dr. Joe Eusterman by Theresa Anderson RD

Theresa Anderson RD — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:58:09 +0000

Dr. Eusterman,
I don’t know if you remember me or not, but early in my career we worked together on a cardiac rehab project in Albany, Oregon. It’s nice to see that you’re still active…and an activist! You have SO many people who appreciate your group’s efforts and hope you’re feeling the empowerment from the masses who have felt this message was long over-due. Thanks!
Theresa Anderson RD LD

Comment on Dr. Joe Eusterman by Ronald Talney

Ronald Talney — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 04:17:16 +0000

Dear Dr. Eusterman:

I saw and heard your panel this evening on local public tv. You mentioned Tommy Douglas and his fight to bring health care to all Canadians. I am Tommy Douglas’ nephew. While born in Canada, I have lived in Oregon most of my life. I recall vividly, however, his battles, including Dr. strikes and death threats. Would that we had a politician of his courage in the United State. There is a new book on Tommy written by a Saskatoon physician, Dr. Stuart Houston, called Tommy’s Team, the story of the unsung heroes of Tommy Douglas. My father is one of those “heroes”. Dr. Houston has written on the Canadian health care system and is widely known for his work. Again, thanks for your efforts.

Comment on Going Dutch? by Jill Herendeen

Jill Herendeen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:50:48 +0000

According to T.R. Reid (and my brother, who lives near Bern), Swiss health insurance is non-profit, although the insurance companies ARE allowed to profit from sale of OTHER forms of insurance. To put in another way, they’re essentially for-profit companies, but they can’t make profits off of their health insurance sales.

I think it’s also important to point out that in Switzerland, the gov’t pays for your health insurance the minute you lose your job. You don’t have to “spend down your assets,” i.e. go bankrupt, basically, first, as you have to to get gov’t assistance in the U.S.

Comment on Welcome by Gail Sredanovic

Gail Sredanovic — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:17:20 +0000

I was pretty shocked that someone thinks you can’t live on 100K. I manage on a LOT less in a very expensive area. Although my housing expenses happen to be low, I spend a huge chunk of my income(about 25 %) on medical care, prescriptions and long-term care insurance. One reason a French doctor can live on less is that he/she does not spend so much on medical expenses. Then too, university expenses cannot possible be a high as here. Plus Europeans don’t usually feel the need to live in a giant dwelling with huge utility bills.

Comment on Protected: Caltrip Organizers Page by Lynn Huidekoper, RN

Lynn Huidekoper, RN — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:55:35 +0000

Comment on Educating with Humor by Allen Prince

Allen Prince — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:23:41 +0000

I was intrigued the most by the Tea Partiers answering the questions and then not knowing the answers to the question. They are great at rote recall but take them off of the script and some didn’t realize they didn’t know the facts behind the questions.

This technique needs to be done by the regular media and we just might find that educating individuals is a counter tactic that should also be used on many of the battle cries we hear from Tea Partiers.

Allen Prince, Ventura County

Comment on Welcome by Jill Herendeen

Jill Herendeen — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:44:47 +0000

Nevertheless, all the other industrialized countries in the world provide universal healthcare while spending roughly half as much, per capita, as we spend now on healthcare (even though millions of our capitae aren’t getting ANY of that healthcare).

How do they accomplish this, you might wonder.

Mostly, they take PROFIT out of the picture, and they limit the actual medical costs. They pay for medical school for the doctors, so the doctors don’t have to bill YOU so as to pay back their student loans. There’s a bit more detail in T. R. Reid’s THE HEALING OF AMERICA (8/09)…. The central fact is that this is a wheel which has already been invented. If we really want universal, affordable healthcare, all we have to do is ask any of a number of other countries how they accomplish this already.

Comment on Welcome by Omron

Omron — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:10:12 +0000

It’s easy to agree that all people should have access to quality health care. The question is whether it is sustainable to offer and promise a high level health care to all people no matter what the circumstances in the future would be. Once given to people – hard to take it away later!

Comment on Welcome by Wheeplebeausa

Wheeplebeausa — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:02:51 +0000

That was a really interesting post, I enjoyed reading it. You are dead right!