On Assignment with Los Angeles Paramedics
For the past week I"ve been working on our latest documentary, which is about the access to healthcare crisis in America today.
The situation is troubling at best and continues to defy any humane logic. The incentives of our healthcare system run counter to common sense, what's best for each of our individual welfare and our society as a whole. We are wasting money and not providing the best care for the greatest number of our citizens. In Los Angeles, we are witnessing the abuse and misuse of the great talents and commitment of the city's firefighter paramedic force. Most of the calls we've been on are non-emergencies that only tax the system and often leave these men and women unable to respond to their main task, which is health emergency 911 calls. These paramedics are being utilized by the community of Watts, which is where I've been stationed, more as primary care doctors, or at worst, as a very expensive taxi service to get them to the head of the line at the emergency rooms of the local hospitals. This is not good nor is it a smart use of our resources. The cost of an LA firefighter ambulance transport is $500 when it's non-urgent and as high as $900 in more critical cases, not including medications. That's before even setting foot inside a hospital. Many of the people who are calling for ambulances either don't have insurance or are under insured. This means the taxpayers will end up covering the costs. I don't have a problem with paying taxes to help those in need, but the system is perverted the way it works now. It is fueled by the wrong incentives. People need to become more educated and the system needs to be revamped. Community clinics, doctor home visits and less expensive forms of primary care need to be implemented in most places, but especially in our low income areas.
Here are a few images from the past week's work. Comments and solutions are welcomed.
The situation is troubling at best and continues to defy any humane logic. The incentives of our healthcare system run counter to common sense, what's best for each of our individual welfare and our society as a whole. We are wasting money and not providing the best care for the greatest number of our citizens. In Los Angeles, we are witnessing the abuse and misuse of the great talents and commitment of the city's firefighter paramedic force. Most of the calls we've been on are non-emergencies that only tax the system and often leave these men and women unable to respond to their main task, which is health emergency 911 calls. These paramedics are being utilized by the community of Watts, which is where I've been stationed, more as primary care doctors, or at worst, as a very expensive taxi service to get them to the head of the line at the emergency rooms of the local hospitals. This is not good nor is it a smart use of our resources. The cost of an LA firefighter ambulance transport is $500 when it's non-urgent and as high as $900 in more critical cases, not including medications. That's before even setting foot inside a hospital. Many of the people who are calling for ambulances either don't have insurance or are under insured. This means the taxpayers will end up covering the costs. I don't have a problem with paying taxes to help those in need, but the system is perverted the way it works now. It is fueled by the wrong incentives. People need to become more educated and the system needs to be revamped. Community clinics, doctor home visits and less expensive forms of primary care need to be implemented in most places, but especially in our low income areas.
Here are a few images from the past week's work. Comments and solutions are welcomed.
posted by Ed Kashi at 12:08 PM
1 Comments:
Hi Ed-
Its Amy Douglas-from way long ago. Anyways, don't know if you know but I am currently attending Georgetown University in the Accelerated program. Yep. Gave up photography to be a nurse- (not entirely-I am hoping to combine the two one day). Anyways, was just reading about your paramedics post and it is truly phenomenal how messed up our health care system is. I had a class this past semester exactly on the US Health care system. We broke it down. And by 2020 there will be no money left. The aging population is increasing at a rate that we cannot support. Plus the amounto f new Doctors and Nurses who specialize with this population and in community health is almost non existent. The eldery participate in only 3 percent of the money to medicare, yet the utilize about 23 percent of the resources. There is a great Professor I had whose specialty is this issue. Her name is Patricia Cloonan-at Georgetown. As well, the LA Times just ran an editorial about the system and what can be done to fix it. Maybe Massachusets will get it right.
There are so many intricacies to the reasons why the system is in such shambles. Also, I have two great books and tons of power points from this class, if you would be interested.
Post a Comment
<< Home