There have been
all sorts of scary predictions about what will happen to patients once
Obamacare goes fully into effect. But if it’s anything like the current care
offered by Kaiser Permanente, maybe the fears are misplaced. Consider my recent
experience with Kaiser after I noticed I was having some heart irregularity and
shortness of breath.
Fear: It’ll take forever to see your
regular doctor.
Reality: I
emailed my doctor with my symptoms and was given an appointment that same day.
She slapped me in the hospital for treatment of atrial fibrillation and
congestive heart failure.
Fear: It’ll take forever to see a
specialist.
Reality: I was treated while
hospitalized by a hospital doctor and a cardiologist, and an appointment was
made with a cardiac surgeon.
Fear: You’ll be denied the use of the
latest medical devices.
Reality: I was given an EKG while
hospitalized and a CT scan with contrast immediately after my release. I’m
scheduled for a cardiac catheterization and another EKG in the immediate
future.
Fear: Medical decisions affecting me will
be made by bureaucrats.
Reality: The doctors with whom I’ve
spoken directly, not faceless bureaucrats or insurance company executives, thus
far have made all medical decisions.
Fear: Remember those “death panels?”
Reality: It has
been decided that I need heart surgery to repair a malfunctioning mitral valve
that seems to be the source of my problems. This decision was made by my
cardiac surgeon after discussing the situation with me. My age (76) and current
state of health are good enough to make a positive outcome seem likely. Had I
been older or my health worse, a surgical decision also would have been agreed
upon by my surgeon and me.
That’s the story
so far. I’m scheduled for non-invasive valve repair/replacement surgery at the
end of the month. I’ll let you know how that turns out. But if this were
Obamacare – and run on the model established by Kaiser Permanente, -- I’d still
have no fears.
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