Excerpts from the show:
Maybe we could learn anything from it.
"All the people coming to our emergency department are treated equal," a doctor told CBS. "We can't say to a patient, 'Oh, you don't have money or the right kind of insurance.'" In fairness, emergency rooms in the United States are obliged to treat and at least stabilize everyone - but because of the cost many Americans never see a doctor until it's an emergency. If anything the French go to doctors too much simply because they can afford it. You see, a typical office visit will cost them 22 euros. That's about $28.
65% is covered by the national health system. The rest is picked up by private insurance which is available to everyone at a nominal cost. But even with that, one doctor in private practice told me, "If a patient has a big problem - no job, nothing - I say 'Okay - don't pay.'"
"All the people coming to our emergency department are treated equal," a doctor told CBS. "We can't say to a patient, 'Oh, you don't have money or the right kind of insurance.'" In fairness, emergency rooms in the United States are obliged to treat and at least stabilize everyone - but because of the cost many Americans never see a doctor until it's an emergency. If anything the French go to doctors too much simply because they can afford it. You see, a typical office visit will cost them 22 euros. That's about $28.
65% is covered by the national health system. The rest is picked up by private insurance which is available to everyone at a nominal cost. But even with that, one doctor in private practice told me, "If a patient has a big problem - no job, nothing - I say 'Okay - don't pay.'"
While critics argue that's socialized medicine, some doctors argue it's what we call managed care.
"Most of the time it doesn't cost anything for the patient," said the doctor. So the French go to a drug store to fill a prescription and most people don't pay anything.
Sound good?
Well, eight years ago the World Health Organization released a study ranking France as having the best health care system in the world.
"Most of the time it doesn't cost anything for the patient," said the doctor. So the French go to a drug store to fill a prescription and most people don't pay anything.
Sound good?
Well, eight years ago the World Health Organization released a study ranking France as having the best health care system in the world.
"But it's not just the quality of health care this country offers, it's the fact that it's offered to everyone. Every man, woman and child who is a legal resident in France is covered by national health care."
It's a comprehensive system that's innovative as well. When you call the emergency number (SAMU is like our EMS, or emergency medical services), first you talk to a doctor ...
"Oui, bonjour c'est le docteur du samu." ("Hello, This the SAMU"-SAMU being the abbreviation for Service Aide Medical Unit)
… who decides whether or not your case is an emergency. It's a time- and cost-effective measure because out of every thousand calls they receive, only about fifty turn about to be real medical emergencies.
"That means in more than 95% of the case we can deal with the call without using the full team," the SAMU medical chief said.
It's a comprehensive system that's innovative as well. When you call the emergency number (SAMU is like our EMS, or emergency medical services), first you talk to a doctor ...
"Oui, bonjour c'est le docteur du samu." ("Hello, This the SAMU"-SAMU being the abbreviation for Service Aide Medical Unit)
… who decides whether or not your case is an emergency. It's a time- and cost-effective measure because out of every thousand calls they receive, only about fifty turn about to be real medical emergencies.
"That means in more than 95% of the case we can deal with the call without using the full team," the SAMU medical chief said.
And while the French are determined to preserve their system (it's currently running a 12 to 14 billion dollar deficit), most agree something's got to change.
"People come to France just to have free care and they don't pay," one doctor said.
So, is their system really better than ours?
Well, the only thing I can really say definitively is, in France you can go to the hospital without going broke.
"People come to France just to have free care and they don't pay," one doctor said.
So, is their system really better than ours?
Well, the only thing I can really say definitively is, in France you can go to the hospital without going broke.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please feel free to comment, always appreciate advice, help, & constructive criticism.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.