this post was submitted on 17 Apr 2024
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It's far from only in the US. In my experience, hospitals in Germany are far worse in this regard. It depends greatly on who is getting paid how much for what. The US is far better for this, but unfortunately it is not affordable for most.
Imo, you're dead wrong. Doctors in the US have no incentive to actually cure anything. They spend minimal time with patients and try to cram as many appointments into a day as possible. I'm the type of person that only goes to the Dr if there's something seriously wrong. I had an ear issue. Took 3 months to see an ENT after multiple failed urgent care visits and an ER visit. The audiologist (not even the Dr) is the one who pointed out I had something clogging my ear canal after multiple Drs and PAs said it was fine. She thankfully got the Dr to pull out a big ole wad of dead skin and wax. Dr says it was likely infected at some point, and my ear made all that dead skin, and that caused that. Have a follow up appointment scheduled which he said I could cancel if the pain went away. The pain went away temporarily, but came back. Follow up is with a completely different dude, and he tells me my ear is fine, and I need to see someone about "pain management". It's very clearly not fine because I'm still seeing you doc. I don't need 600 mg ibuprofen tablets, I need my ear to not hurt.
My theory is that either the ear is still infected, and the drops I had weren't penetrating the ear canal due to the big ole wad that was blocking my ear, or there's still a bit more wad blocking the ear that they need to pull out. I'm ready to self prescribe my old eardrops which I still have leftover to see if it works.
Doctors in the US love to kick the can down the road. "Oh, I couldn't possibly diagnose that, you need to see a specialist. Let me give you a referral." Then you see the next dickhead who says oh actually u need this other specialist, let me give you a referral.
I'm not in some podunk town either. This is a world renowned hospital I'm talking about. Our healthcare system in the US is absolute ass.
I can't comment on the state of the German system, but agree with everything you said otherwise.
One of the worst parts is that in the absence of critical thought by doctors, it feels like the only choice I have as an individual is to try and figure things out myself. But God forbid I actually mention thinking deeply about the issue to a doctor - I'm immediately labeled non-compliant / hypochondriac. You can't fucking win.
Sorry about your ear problems. That sounds bad and a terrible thing to live with.
The US heathcare systems have many problems as you pointed out. I also am well aware of them as I lived there for 30 years both with and without insurance. The only thing that I can give is my lived experience in both systems. The problems that you pointed out among many others exist in most health care systems globally. Despite and including these problems in my experience the US still gives better care. That may be hard to hear (no pun intended) but the grass is not always greener.
Now don't get me wrong. I prefer the system here in Germany but not because it's better, but because it is available to everyone. People here don't go bankrupt with medical debt like in the US.
YMMV. American doctors are an absolute crap shoot in terms of expertise and bedside manner. For any kind of surgery, you really need to shop around and interview and get referrals, because there's a real chance you end up with a guy who has half a dozen lawsuits pending for malpractice if you're not careful.
True - but this is also true everywhere I have been too.
I have alopecia and every dermatologist I visited was either unwilling or unable to help me. It sucks to be a Kassenpatient
I assume that you are german? I have experienced similar here with dermatologists but for allergies. I went to 4 different allergists over a 8 month period to simply get tested to be able to get an epipen which could potentially save my life. This in the US took one next day visit with a doctor. Later (in the US) I saw specialists that put a lot of research into my allergies and time and attention into it. I got nothing here in Germany.
As mentioned before, despite this, I would rather support the german system though. It has its problems like everywhere, but it is at least available to everyone at more affordable prices.
Yes, I am.
I was in all three healthcare systems, the Army's freie Heilsfürsorge, private insured as a child over my dad and now with statutory health insurance and let me tell you, the differences are jarring.
10% of my wage before taxes go away for my health insurance and all I get are doctors and specialist who don't care and do the absolute bare minimum for me. Of course I'm complaining on a higher level but it's fucked nonetheless.
I have often wondered about the private insurance (not that I can afford it). I've only been on AOK I can only assume that the care is much much better with private insurance?
I only know private insurance is more expensive, has shorter waiting times and better care but can only be done if you're a public servant or have an income above a certain treshold. Also private insurance can say no and it's very difficult to go back to statutory health insurance from private insurance.