When you have a product or service that is limited, there are only two ways to distribute it. Either by money or by rationing.
I do believe we have the best health care (in some places) in the world. I’m a patient at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and there are patients who come from all over the world to be treated there. There are some hospitals in the U.S. where one doesn’t receive the best care. But at least we usually can pick a different facility, if we’re not satisfied with one. (I chose Mayo because my local doctors weren’t diagnosing me quickly enough as my condition worsened. Turns out I have something extremely rare, and would never have been diagnosed locally, according to my family doctor.)
Both distributing by money or rationing seems unfair to the consumer. But by distributing by money, it rewards the physicians who study harder, etc. Maybe that’s why at Mayo, I have an Italian neurologist, a Chinese G.I. student, who is supervised by an Indian (maybe Pakistani?) gastreoentologist. My local cardiologist is Syrian. (I have other doctors who are native to the U.S.) Those individuals come to the U.S. because they can learn more and earn more by studying and practicing medicine here.
I’m happy for you Smiley but the fact remains that the US DOES NOT have the best health care in the world though we certainly have the highest costs. We’re not even close. Even some 3rd world countries are ranked higher by many measures. Healthcare should be a basic right available to all.
I have had a few family members who have benefited from Mayo clinic treatment. One still lives today. She is fiercely determined, has the amazing support of my father, and is an all around amazing individual. And, she is a big proponent of basic, available-to-all health care. I’m wondering, why one or the other? Is it really that way?
Nebulous Premium Member over 8 years ago
The US does have the best Health Care that money can buy.And therein lies the problem. Money.
Iduntgetit over 8 years ago
the US has a higher infant mortality rate than Cuba.
Cozmik Cowboy over 8 years ago
IIRC, the WHO rates the US 38th in quality of health care.But yes, when it comes to cost, we’re number one!
Smiley Rmom over 8 years ago
When you have a product or service that is limited, there are only two ways to distribute it. Either by money or by rationing.
I do believe we have the best health care (in some places) in the world. I’m a patient at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and there are patients who come from all over the world to be treated there. There are some hospitals in the U.S. where one doesn’t receive the best care. But at least we usually can pick a different facility, if we’re not satisfied with one. (I chose Mayo because my local doctors weren’t diagnosing me quickly enough as my condition worsened. Turns out I have something extremely rare, and would never have been diagnosed locally, according to my family doctor.)
Both distributing by money or rationing seems unfair to the consumer. But by distributing by money, it rewards the physicians who study harder, etc. Maybe that’s why at Mayo, I have an Italian neurologist, a Chinese G.I. student, who is supervised by an Indian (maybe Pakistani?) gastreoentologist. My local cardiologist is Syrian. (I have other doctors who are native to the U.S.) Those individuals come to the U.S. because they can learn more and earn more by studying and practicing medicine here.
sassymm over 8 years ago
I’m happy for you Smiley but the fact remains that the US DOES NOT have the best health care in the world though we certainly have the highest costs. We’re not even close. Even some 3rd world countries are ranked higher by many measures. Healthcare should be a basic right available to all.
Keep on keepin' on over 8 years ago
I have had a few family members who have benefited from Mayo clinic treatment. One still lives today. She is fiercely determined, has the amazing support of my father, and is an all around amazing individual. And, she is a big proponent of basic, available-to-all health care. I’m wondering, why one or the other? Is it really that way?
neverenoughgold over 8 years ago
Nothing is free!
Marathon Zack over 8 years ago
That’s because we’re fatter than the rest of the world, so it costs more to keep us not dead.