[Magdalen] Rant

[Jon Egger]

David, one of the main reasons I worked for the VA was because it IS
basically socialized medicine, but not for everybody.  I never had to deal
with charge slips for patients and any of the other stuff of non-VA
hospitals.

BUT, the VA rules were very military-like.  When a patient was admitted or
transferred to the ICU, we had to fill out a form to place the patient on
what was called the SI List (Seriously Ill)  in triplicate.   I forgot who
got the copies...I think one copy went to admitting, one to the MOD/AOD,
and one to nursing supervisor.   One night we got a patient straight from
the ER in full code, and when I called admitting to report the death they
told me that the patient couldn't be dead because they weren't on the SI
List!  The VA finally got rid of the form...maybe at the end of the Clinton
administration.



+++
Grace & peace,
jon


On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 7:08 AM, ME Michaud <michaudme at gmail.com> wrote:

> We certainly tried to fight the good fight at MGH. Over the years the
> rules got tougher&tougher re: accepting gifts, especially from drug
> company reps and device company reps. It got to the point of our
> not being able to carry or use tote bags or pens with company
> logos.
>
> As the time for the Medicare switcheroo approaches, when (presumably)
> we're considering changing supplemental policies for the new year,
> we are both inundated with ads and offers to sign up with a different
> carrier. Endless commercials on daytime television, when seniors are
> likely to be watching. So I infer ... somebody's making money or they'd
> just ignore us.
>
> We had a gubernatorial candidate in Massachusetts (Don Berwick) who
> ran on a platform that included single-payer health insurance. I
> supported him in the primary. And he did very well in the primary.
> So don't give up hope.
>
> Medicare for everybody!
> -M
>
>
> On Thursday, February 26, 2015, <sally.davies at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > There are a couple of colleagues on the Clinicians list I follow that
> post
> > daily on this topic.
> >
> > Today's post says "follow the money" and claims that the private health
> > industry lobby in Washington is now bigger than the arms industry or any
> > other for that matter.
> >
> >
>