I had an experience that illustrated this matter and I will provide a brief recount. While riding my bicycle, I was coasting at a speed of not less than 10 mph toward a red light in the right side of my lane that would allow me to proceed straight through the intersection. There was another lane to the right that was right turn only so I heeded that by riding in my lane as far to the right that was both safe and practicable. I'm an experienced bike rider, a considerate motor vehicle operator, and knowledgeable about vehicle codes so I know what I'm talking about irt the law and safety. Suddenly, a van directly smashed into my rear tire to launch me airborne for several yards. As a consequence, I violently struck the pavement numerous times as my body flipped and rolled over the hard, rough surface. The rear tire was hit with enough force to collapse it like the letter U. I never engaged the brakes. The bike was catapulted down the road too. My entire body has suffered from severe injuries and extreme pain. The police report found the driver at fault and indicated the impact point was clearly within a third of the bumper's right side.
Since I'm a military retiree, the ambulance decided to deliver me to the Naval Hospital in San Diego. Next to the VA in San Diego, that was the worst experience I have ever had irt negligent treatment and fraud. Initially, there was much interest in my health but when they discovered I was a mere retiree with TriCare coverage but no other private insurance then the level of attention noticeably turned to disregard and inattention that leveled upon negligence. Despite my vital signs indicating stress, clear indication of injuries, and my complaints of pain there were no further X-Ray or MRI diagnostics taken other than a look at my right hip. I had flipped along the road like a rag doll, literally twisted my neck under my left arm, had smashed my helmeted head into the pavement several times, and had other body parts violently smash into the pavement. Though I felt nauseous, could feel crunching and popping in my neck and shoulders even as my body was stiffening, couldn't lift my right arm, had numerous abrasions, and could barely walk without wobbling it was astounding that the "doctors" treated me like I had merely fallen into the grass while riding at the park.
My friend had arrived before they even took the hip X-Ray and even asked why I wasn't getting examined for other injuries. It was astounding to hear the doctor babble through a lame explanation provided but indicated that I should return if the pain worsened so released me with pain medication and minimal treatment instructions that were the basic first aid measures of R-I-C-E. I had immediately noticed that they made a mistake on the injury cause, injuries, and complaints of pain. I wanted to have it corrected iaw the information on my admission sheet. They indicated that information is not retained and it had been shredded but that the record would be changed anyway. I returned within the next day 48 hours with worsening conditions and elevated pain. I received morphine injections for pain relief and only took a CAT scan of my torso. Despite the information I provided on the admission forms that clearly and specifically indicated the cause of the injuries along with all the indications and pain, I was neglected and released with more pain medications. From all of that information, how does the record surmise that I was "clipped", not indicate my injuries or pain, and amazingly instructed that I would recover so long as I took the required dosage of pain medications. It was the beginning of my problems with that facility and the VA. I have been neglected, harrassed, misdiagnosed, misled with false information that did not correspond to that on the records, discovered fraud and forgery, never provided information regarding costs let alone provided a statement that indicated costs for specific treatment, had a surgery cancelled on the day it was supposed to occur without any warning or arrangement, and many other issues that caused me to not just waste nearly a year but that exacerbated my injuries to where my health has deteriorated as much as the affected areas have atrophied. I would recant the suffereing and successive problems as a consequence of the neglect and healthcan't provided by the government run medical faclilities but I'm sure that you understand. The message is that there is great risk associated with those facilities; patients are in peril and they are to be avoided. An ER doctor at the VA had informed me, as others eventually would, that they would not recommend the VA or Naval Hospital to get treated for an injury and the latter facility does indeed consider retirees bothersome, nonprofitable, and to provide minimal services if at all in order to quickly send them on their way. However, it seems that they get to write their own stories about the cause of injuries and how they had came through with all the treatment the patient needed despite all evidence to the contrary. As the harrassing person that refused to give me their name over the phone had explained, "they never make mistakes". What does that say about the credibility of health reform? My advice is to instill video cameras and voice recorders in places where medical treatment occurs as well as in courts. If not available then provide your own voice recording equipment while ensuring that an actual copy of the recording would be provided. Regardless of the problems with transcripts of records, I wonder how many doctors, lawyers, if even judges would still participate ... which goes to show you about the issue with honesty and value of trust in the USA.
The process of handing out HITECH stimulus could hit the medical device market.
