We asked readers on social media and in our weekly newsletter to share their thoughts about what’s working or what isn’t working in healthcare. Here’s what they said.
“From my experience in the last 10 years of healthcare in the U.S., what’s working is the incredible level of medical innovation and expertise available, but what isn’t working is how difficult it still is for many people to access timely and affordable care.”
—Samantha, Bucktown
I think what’s working in healthcare is when your doctor takes a little time to really listen and understand your concerns and builds a rapport. What is not working is the difficulty trying to reach a healthcare professional with all the scheduling and nurse lines and long wait times.
—Beth Comer, Westlake, Ohio
I never understand why we do bloodwork after the primary care appointment. It feels like a waste of time. Shouldn’t we be spending the appointment time discussing what was found in the bloodwork?
—Anonymous, via newsletter
One thing, there is no more friendly family doctor. When I was growing up, our doctor lived walking distance from our house. We were a family of four girls, and when one would get sick, we all would get sick. My dad would just call him. He would come to the house and check on us and then sit down with my dad and have a glass of wine. You will never see that now. He was a true character, but he knew how to diagnose people. He diagnosed my mother with a brain tumor when my father called him to come to the house because she was going out of her mind in pain. Now I go to my doctor, who is a nice person. I like her, but the minute you get in the office you better have your list ready and give her time to type everything in. She will be in and out of there in 10 minutes.
—Margie Brandt, via newsletter
Since insurance continues to lower reimbursement to healthcare providers, and investors are buying most hospitals and healthcare facilities, healthcare providers are being squeezed to see more patients in order to avoid pay or staffing cuts. This pressure has caused many healthcare professionals to leave their fields. On a positive note, healthcare providers who have stayed are truly working because they are passionate about their careers and want to help others.
—Physical Therapist, Uptown
