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Posted by Gerald Hunt (68.116.1.115) on 04:01:38 10/05/04

I am a proponent of a single national health care insurance which is based on patient needs and not the cost of treatment. If it has to be subsidized, then so be it. I'm willing to pay thru taxation.
My medical odyssey began about 10 years ago when I was working for a big school system in the SW. The school district had contracted with an HMO that was quite expensive for the employees and the level of care was abysmal. The HMO was strictly based on showing a profit, damned be the patient's needs.
I'd been feeling very bad... my BP was off the charts and I had very little energy. The HMO doctors kept throwing pills at me, never searching for and addressing the cause of my illness. I was extremely frustrated and discouraged. Finally, I gave up on them and went to the local military hospital... I've had military benefits since being hurt in Vietnam. Their system is not based on profit. The doctor promised me he'd get to the root of my problems and he began an extensive series of tests... something the HMO was unwilling to do because of cost. After several months of exhaustive research, it was discovered I had very rare tumors growing on my adrenal glands. Thus, I was able to undergo surgery to remove the tumors and avoid further complications or death. I will never go back to HMOs. They have lost their hearts to the almighty dollar. Accountants are now in control of what was once the domain of physicians. We absolutely must regain the dignity of the doctor/patient relationship, which should be based on caring and trust.

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Comments:	: I am a proponent of a single national health care insurance which is based on patient needs and not the cost of treatment. If it has to be subsidized, then so be it. I'm willing to pay thru taxation. : My medical odyssey began about 10 years ago when I was working for a big school system in the SW. The school district had contracted with an HMO that was quite expensive for the employees and the level of care was abysmal. The HMO was strictly based on showing a profit, damned be the patient's needs. : I'd been feeling very bad... my BP was off the charts and I had very little energy. The HMO doctors kept throwing pills at me, never searching for and addressing the cause of my illness. I was extremely frustrated and discouraged. Finally, I gave up on them and went to the local military hospital... I've had military benefits since being hurt in Vietnam. Their system is not based on profit. The doctor promised me he'd get to the root of my problems and he began an extensive series of tests... something the HMO was unwilling to do because of cost. After several months of exhaustive research, it was discovered I had very rare tumors growing on my adrenal glands. Thus, I was able to undergo surgery to remove the tumors and avoid further complications or death. I will never go back to HMOs. They have lost their hearts to the almighty dollar. Accountants are now in control of what was once the domain of physicians. We absolutely must regain the dignity of the doctor/patient relationship, which should be based on caring and trust.
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Dr. Carl A. Hammerschlag, M.D., CPAE, psychiatrist and author, is a professional keynote and motivational speaker. He speaks on a variety of topics including healthcare, mind body and spirit, health and wellness, mental healing and leadership. He has delivered motivational and keynote speaches to corporate and business clients around the world.