From: exudnw@exu.ericsson.se (Dave Williams)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: "Incompetent doctors" (was Xanax or someth
Date: 10 Sep 92 21:30:38 GMT
Reply-To: exudnw@exu.ericsson.se
Organization: Ericsson Network Systems

In article 16358@pitt.UUCP, km@cs.pitt.edu (Ken Mitchum) writes:
>
>In article <18ii2jINNe67@agate.berkeley.edu> werner@soe.berkeley.edu (John Werner) writes:
>
>>This is sort of a worst-case
>>scenario; he's in the Army and they're stuck seeing mostly
>>incompetent Army doctors.
>
>What exactly is the connection? What if I wrote:
>This is a sort of a worst-case scenario: he's in business for
>himself and they're stuck seeing mostly incompetent private
>doctors? I have seen more incompetent doctors in private
>practice than anywhere else - perhaps they deserve to be
>stereoptyped in this way!
>
>I am reminded of a phone conversation I had with a relative
>when I told her I was taking a job with the VA. Her response was
>"They don't hire good doctors at the VA." She never saw fit
>to question my qualifications before that, but I don't think
>she's ever asked for advice from me since.
>
>If you are unhappy with the fact that your choice of physicians
>within the military is more limited than you would like, please
>state that, rather than to stereotype an entire group of
>professionals.
>
> -km

As a medical retiree of the USAF, I can shed a little light on the issue of
military doctors.  

Keesler AFB, Biloxi MS: Had a cyst removed from over right eye.  They claimed
it would be "a 15 minute operation" - took 2 hours and the local wore off quite 
a while before they were done.  Nice scar.

Shaw AFB, Sumter SC: Had bronchitis (bad case) local AF doc gave me prednisone
when it didn't clear up in 2 weeks.  By the time I got refered to a specialist
(at D. Eisenhower Army Medical Ctr. Ft Gordon, GA) 2 months later I had a 
measured PO2 of 57% and couldn't even *perform* a PFT.  Diagnosis was adult
onset asthma with steroid dependency.  The year prior to my retirement saw me
hospitalized 6 times for asthma related problems. Since retirement (11 years ago)
I have spent 3 days in hospitals (2 for pneumonia and 1 for sinus surgery).

Lackland AFB, San Antonio TX: Great doctors - lousy system.  Evaluated my asthma
and railroaded me quickly (2 days!) out of the USAF.  They did me a favor, but 
they didn't give a damn when I tried to tell them the above case.

I have seen 3 kinds of military doctors:

1) I'm just doing my time cause they paid for med school and I have to. God, I 
   miss argyle socks. English may be a second (or third) language for me. I try 
   not to get involved in the military crap either.

2) I'm a lifer and I'll ride this job till they retire me - I don't give a damn
   about my patients `cause they don't write my reviews (OER's).  I'm frequently 
   seen sucking up to those above me with new ways of saving money on patents and
   services.

3) I care about my patients but the military health care system won't let me do 
   the kind of job I want.  I'll burn out quickly from frustration and overwork.

I have no experience with the VA, nor do I want any.

---
= exudnw@exu.ericsson.se                                                =
= David Williams              "You can't win, you can't break even,     =
= Ericsson Network Systems     and you can't quit"                      =
= Richardson, TX 75081                                  my opinions...  =