Monday, October 05, 2009

Public Option



I know a guy who was in a video...

56 comments:

rlbates said...

Great job, Dr Sid! [hey, I put this on twitter for you]

Sid Schwab said...

Thanks, Ramona. I have a twitter account, which I use approximately not at all; but I'm aware of its power to propagate.

Posts on various blogs suggest a good time was had by all at Blogworld.

Unrelated: I note a Stegner book on your profile page list of favorites. There was a very nice hour on him in PBS last night. If you missed it, I'm sure it'll be on again.

Chrysalis said...

Loved seeing that. Thank you for posting it.

Timmyson said...

Whoa, whoa! Which one are you? Aside from knowing your gender and approximate age, some of us have no idea who you are!

Sid Schwab said...

See, that's why it's called "option," Timmyson.

Timmyson said...

Hahahahah. You're totally missing out on tonnes of groupies.

Anonymous said...

Is this you Sid?

This photo comes up when I google your name.

Sid Schwab said...

No, no, no, it ain't me, babe... But I am on the first page of the search, twice.

Anonymous said...

Okay, okay... Then is this one you?

Anonymous said...

Yeah, that's you. That picture looks just like the guy in the video bad mouthing insurance companies. Haha

Sid Schwab said...

Okay, okay. But I like this one better.

Anonymous said...

She's beautiful, and clearly very happy. It's probably because she knew she was marrying a surgeon.

Since you shared, so will I.

Chrysalis said...

I like them both.

Sid Schwab said...

Nice, Mike.

SeaSpray said...

I like both pics and nice job in the video.

Fuzzyfoot said...

I do so agree with the clip! I am a Surgeon as well. Wouldn't it be the greatest 'luxury' to just take care of patients and love the art of taking a history, examining patients and counselling them about their illness and proceeding with their care without worrying about all the insurance garbage, denials, etc.? I dream of that! I remember being a resident, when the greatest objective was to provide the best and most responsible care that you could - the recognition of your diligence was the way you got ahead and the recognition of that by colleagues was the greatest accolade. The present system destroys that in a kind of perverted system of 'pay for performance' and 'outcomes management' scheme designed to exclude care to the 'safest' but not necessarily the best treatments.

Unknown said...

You look a bit like John Cleese in that photo...
Also, did anyone else notice the inserted blue frames with (I think) 'Overated' written on them in white? I noticed them while Sid and Lisa Plymate were speaking

Unknown said...

Maybe it was "Underated"...

Michael said...

Hi Ramona, I have reviewed your blog and i loved the way you organize the information on medical education. I would like to add you on my website medicalschool.org. The name itself tells about our work and mission. We are promoting this website through link exchange program. And you are most welcome to post article on my website. So if possible, i would love to be on your blog. In this way you can help us in promoting our website that is absolutely for no profit purpose. Please reply me back with your interest level.

Thank you,
Willam Lee
editor.medicalschool@gmx.com
www.medicalschool.org

Sid Schwab said...

I'm gonna assume the above comment was meant for Ramona Bates at Suture For A Living. Med students have lots on their minds, so we should forgive -- or even expect -- a little confusion once in a while.

AlisonH said...

Hey, Sid, I snapped a really lousy photo of Merritt Hospital from the 12th floor today, posted it at http://spindyeknit.com/2009/11/ucsf-medical-center/ and thought you might enjoy seeing your old stomping grounds, blurry as it is.

Medical Spa MD said...

Nicely done, Dr. Sid.

tom said...

sid have you quit

Sid Schwab said...

Hi, Tom. Not necessarily. I still answer questions and comments when they appear, and I still hold hope for renewed inspiration.

ewall67 said...

Hi Dr. Schwab. Sorry it's not about public option, per se, but I can't find a link to email you... I believe you and I know a certain RNFA in common named Joannie. She speaks very highly of you. And I think very highly of her. Like you I am retired from full time practice in general surgery at Prov (what name have they concocted for the place this month?) and now devote the bulk of my time to raising my brood of three. I gave up sleepless nights for abdominal sepsis in favor of sleepless nights for my adoring children. Post some more, eh? What do you think of the impending health care legislation?

Sid Schwab said...

Hi, E Wall. Yes, I've heard of you (Elizabeth, right?) and the fact that for a while you did what I did, after my "retirement," namely the hospitalist gig. I wrote about it on this blog, and liked it a lot. Would have kept at it but it was sort of a time-limited arrangement, with a full-timer coming in a few months. Here's another post about it, too.

Indeed Joanie was the best. I wrote about her in one of the very first posts on this blog, which was, in fact, lifted from a chapter in my book. I miss her, and much about my former life. Much, but hardly all.

My email contact used to be on my profile page. I guess I must have removed it. I just put it back, and it can be accessed via the "view my complete profile" under the "about me" thing on the right of the blog.

I'm of several minds on the impending legislation: as I've written, I actually favor single payer, since I can't for the life of me think of a reason we need private insurers sucking all that money out of the system. I'm sure there'll be all sorts of unintended consequences, and there's precious little in meaningful cost control. I'm an advocate for "effectiveness research," and would like to see it actually happen. But demagoguery wins the day.

SeaSpray said...

May you have a Happy and Blessed New Year Dr Schwab.

I miss your posts. :)

Sid Schwab said...

Thanks, Sea Spray, and same to you!!

SeaSpray said...

You're very welcome.

Thank you too. :)

Anonymous said...

Hello Dr Sid
Thanks for dropping by my little blogspace and taking the time to leave a comment about my Doo Wop post. Is there a glitch of some kind or haven't you posted an entry on this blog since October 2009?

I like what you've done with the site. I've added it to my reading list. I've always considered myself very knowledgeable about human anatomy and general medicine or science but I know zilch about surgery except the procedures performed on ME. I've had a few.

Always happy to meet another Doo Wop fan.
See you around out here somewhere.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Sid Schwab said...

Harry, you're an a$$hole. Can you read? You know, about comments that link to commercial sites? Go away. Thanks.

Robert said...

Sid can you post or comment about what your thoughts are on reconciliation?

Sid Schwab said...

Well, in brief, I don't really have a problem with it. As I've said many ways and many times on my other blog, I think the Senate rules, as now being used and abused, are making our country ungovernable. And I don't think there's any bill the Republicans would vote for as long as Obama is president, lest he get any credit. (Nor, of course, did they do anything about health care when they had control for many years.)

I guess I wish there could be a bill that would garner some R support. On the other hand, I don't think they really have serious ideas, centrally. Market forces, and malpractice reform. The former is why we're screwed, the latter, while necessary, is over-rated as a cause of our cost crisis.

So I don't have a problem with it. Only with the people claiming, falsely, that it wasn't used by Rs (except on Bush's tax cuts, and many others, for which all the current Rs now screaming, voted using reconciliation.)

Sid Schwab said...

PS, if you're still listening. This editorial comment clarifies some misunderstanding about the use of reconciliation in the health care bill.

Chrysalis said...

I wish you'd write again, Sid. You are missed.

Sid Schwab said...

Wow, a voice from the past. Nice to hear from you, CA.

Chrysalis said...

I'm not the one that's been missing. Time to dust off that keyboard, Sid! Unless....you've been working on that book?

jen said...

This doesn't belong on this post, but I'll use it anyway since it's most recent.

Just thought you should know that the Grey's Anatomy writers picked up your chromic suture story. Of course, it may be that you are a secret consultant and so wrote in your own story. Either way, I got really excited halfway through when I figured out what was going on!

Sid Schwab said...

Thanks, Jennifer! I haven't watched the show in a couple of years or more, but that's very amusing. Maybe they read my blog?

Chrysalis said...

Seriously. Lately, I have noticed on one show in particular it seems to discuss some of the things from Kevin MD. I've said, they've GOT to be reading. Is he providing fodder?

Like I've said Sid, dust off that keyboard. Time to spring clean.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Sid Schwab said...

Well, Joanne, I hope when you become a teacher you'll be able to read better than you seem to now. As in the warning about spam comments linking to commercial sites.

tom said...

Sid, looking forward to your return (still). While you have written about many topics, I do not feel your work is yet done.

In spite of the chest thumping about Health Insurance (not health care) Reform, access to care for many will remain an issue for years to come.

I would be interested in your thoughts on how to improve access to both primary and specialty care.

The solutions will not come from Washington-and I doubt they will come from organized medicine given the following stats:
California has the largest (~35,000members)Medical Association in the country, followed by Texas. Interestingly,these same two states have the largest numbers of federally designated Medically Underserved Areas, so improving access does not seem to be a priority

Cain said...

Dr. Schwab, I just wanted to let you know how much I loved reading your blog and how sorry I am that I found it after you seem to be finished with it. After reading through your sampler, I raced to Amazon to buy your book. It will be here in a few days and I'm really looking forward to it.

High Regards,

meningioma surgery operation said...

Piracy is the most danger thing for any thing it can be medical line also.
Thanks for blog.
meningioma surgery operation

Sid Schwab said...

Normally I delete spam comments, but this one was so amusing I left it.

Anonymous said...

I think you need to travel to UK and France to see what you are missing. People who stay in one country, I find them really narrow minded and on this occasion arrogant. I guess you missed the points of Micheal Moore's Sicko. No one health care system is perfect but there are a whole bunch which are a whole lot better than USA's.

Sid Schwab said...

I guess you missed the point of the video.

Anonymous said...

your right, i missed the point... lol

Celeste Bergin said...

Dear Dr. Sid,
I found your blog because I googled your brilliant Aunt, Mildred Schwab. Thanks so much for that article about her. I've been enjoying reading the rest of your blog too and just felt compelled to write: COOL! It's rare (really!) to read so many interesting cases from a surgeon's viewpoint. Generous..!
I hope you return to blogging.
Meanwhile..thanks, again.
Celeste

Ihsan Shanti said...

we do so agree with the clip! we a Surgeon as well. Wouldn't it be the greatest 'luxury' to just take care of patients and love the art of taking a history, examining patients and counselling them about their illness and proceeding with their care without worrying about all the insurance garbage, denials, etc.? I dream of that! I remember being a resident, when the greatest objective was to provide the best and most responsible care that you could - the recognition of your diligence was the way you got ahead and the recognition of that by colleagues was the greatest accolade. The present system destroys that in a kind of perverted system of 'pay for performance' and 'outcomes management' scheme designed to exclude care to the 'safest' but not necessarily the best treatments.

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Saana said...

I only just found your blog by clicking randomly in Wikipedia.

I'm a Finnish 4th year (Finnish medical school takes 6 years) medical student wishing to become a surgeon one day. Thank you so much for your wonderful blog, you have inspired and given me even more determination to become a surgeon.

Wish you all the best.

Sid Schwab said...

Thank you, Saana. I'm glad you found the blog, and I wish you a bright future. It's an honorable profession, and remains full of wonder.

rntoo said...

Sid...Dr Schwab, we were stationed together in Vietnam. I remember the night you were injured. A "122 Rocket" struck your barracks and you were thrown out of your bed and you Fx'ed your clavicle, it wasn't a good night. Congratulations on your book and your successful career as a Surgeon. I remember your passion. I am a RN in Northern California Email : rntoo@sbcglobal.net Dan Fruge

Sid Schwab said...

Frugie!! I remember you well. In particular, another night on which I was unable to get off the floor...

Sampler

Moving this post to the head of the list, I present a recently expanded sampling of what this blog has been about. Occasional rant aside, i...