tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post7220079708261046323..comments2024-03-28T02:29:13.507-07:00Comments on Legal Ruralism: Sometimes hospitals make me sickLisa R. Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469550950363542801noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post-41524046292253045932011-12-01T19:56:22.894-08:002011-12-01T19:56:22.894-08:00Unfortunately, cultural insensitivity runs rampant...Unfortunately, cultural insensitivity runs rampant in medical industry. My partner works in health care and tells me absurd stories of how patients get treated. It is ridiculous to see the amount of medical service providers casting judgements on those they are supposed to serve. I myself have experienced insensitivity around gender and sexuality issues by my primary-care provider at UC Davis (!). Every time I interact with my dr, I am shocked to hear the(stereotypical) comments and general assumptions they make about me. One would think in a place like Davis or San Francisco, health care service providers would be more open and less judgmental about their patients.oceguerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09779330146502912142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post-78503160615720348592011-11-29T17:11:15.772-08:002011-11-29T17:11:15.772-08:00I'll echo what others have said, but it seems ...I'll echo what others have said, but it seems as online consultations are the fix for rural patients. This opens up additional problems in terms of rural resources to adequate technology, cost of the visit and whether it is necessary to have the specialist assisted by an onsite consultant, etc.? No doubt our technology is often more advanced than we understand and we often fail to utilize it to its full potential. However I feel this is an area where everyone can see the potential and are actively working towards a solution. <br /><br />In reference to the other problems that may arise, they will most likely raise the initial cost of such "visits" and check-ups, but with time will decrease and provide better medical care to rural inhabitants.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01504747620898238135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post-30938682876411893782011-11-29T09:31:26.447-08:002011-11-29T09:31:26.447-08:00I'm sorry to hear about your mother's trip...I'm sorry to hear about your mother's trip to the hospital and even more sorry that the doctor wasn't particularly understanding. As both Kevin and Courtney have pointed out, online consultations or treatment services are definitely an underutilized source in facilitating rural access to medical care. A family friend similarly had to make quite a trek to the Stanford Medical Center for treatment exclusively offered there. In fact, the medical issue was such an emergency they had to fly him there -- needless to say, the bill was extremely costly and I am sure medical expenses are bound to pose another issue for many others. While I share your surprise at the doctor's seeming ignorance of deficit medical resources in rural areas, I wonder if informing them of the gravity of the problem would benefit? Policymakers and governmental actors might be the ones determining allocation of funds and resources, but a doctor's opinion on the matter could hold more sway.JThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16941461796518598088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post-13330771685628963912011-11-28T09:02:56.341-08:002011-11-28T09:02:56.341-08:00I think this post highlights issues in our healthc...I think this post highlights issues in our healthcare infrastructure that affect rural communities as well as urban ones. While I wholeheartedly agree that the travel and expense required for specialized healthcare places an unacceptable burden on rural people, I think it's important to note that this burden can also affect urban-dwellers. There surely are people who live in Southern California cities who are diagnosed with rare illnesses that can only be treated at Stanford Medical Center, for example. They are required, just as rural people are, to travel long distances to receive treatment. <br /><br />I think there are solutions, however, that can benefit both rural and urban patients. As you and Kevin point out, the Internet is a great tool for transmitting data between hospitals to reduce the number of in-person visits that are needed. Although this is used in some hospitals, it is not used nearly as much as it could be. Using the Internet for virtual patient care will require a huge culture shift for today's doctors. Perhaps as people in medical school now begin their residencies, they will be more open to working with patients and their local doctors over the Internet.CEThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02633830407602623200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post-35965564251846969382011-11-23T00:40:51.435-08:002011-11-23T00:40:51.435-08:00I have several relatives who live in rural Nevada ...I have several relatives who live in rural Nevada that have faced similar issues. The hospitals in their hometowns are sufficient if you need a few stitches or some other type of general care, but for anything more advanced, it is necessary to travel to one of the major population hubs for treatment. One family in particular has had to move to Reno for the foreseeable future while dealing with an extended illness. I think the lack of quality healthcare is one of the biggest issues facing rural areas. As rural populations continue to age and necessarily require more advanced healthcare, they are often left with one of two options: relocate or commute to a bigger city for the length of time it takes to treat the problem or try to make the best of it with the often sub-standard care and equipment available at home. I'm not sure that there's really any good solution to the problem. It would require a huge number of doctors and an incredible investment in infrastructure in order to assure that all Americans have access to the same level of healthcare. That simply isn't feasible. However I do think that the internet is an underutilized resource. As you mentioned in your post, the internet can provide a wealth of information and allow patients to connect with one another to discuss their health. It can also be better utilized to connect specialists with people living in rural places. Oftentimes doctors simply check over numbers from lab results and discuss the course of treatment with the patient during their appointment. There is little to no need for physical contact or proximity. In those cases, some sort of video conferencing or telecommunications system would enable the patient to receive advice and treatment from doctors in bigger cities without having to leave home. And as you illustrated, the cost of travel combined with the cost of medical treatment can often be overly burdensome. The cost of a high-speed internet connection on the other hand is much cheaper.KevinNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12817001832545833235noreply@blogger.com