One of the main reasons we moved back was the deteriorating health care system in the US.

Everyone needs to understand there is a HUGE difference between "health care system" and "Medical Treatment".

"Medical Treatment" is what doctors do. Be doctors.

Diagnose. Treat. Cure
"Health care system" involves the huge mess surrounding the doctors under which they have to operate.

The layers and layers of bureacracy, third party payments, MBA bosses, pharma companies, medical malpractice, corporate work culture, VC partners etc.
Needless to say, the layers keep on increasing and move the patient further and further away from the doctor.

So now, the diagnosis happens only if the insurance company approves the check up or the tests or imaging.

The diagnosis has to happen within a stipulated time
because the CFO has decided how much time can be spent per patient to ensure the numbers are good enough to keep the VC guys happy.

The diagnosis has to happen only when the patient finds a pathological lab and a pathologist or an imaging center and a radiologist within the
insurance network.

The infected appendix or the knee replacement or the cancer surgery can only occur when the in network surgeon, anaesthetist etc are available.

Every step mentioned above has to be pre approved by the insurance carrier and yet can carry a significant out of
pocket expenses for the patient.

Even after pre approval, the insurance might not cover all the expenses.

Today the leading cause for personal bankruptcy is not a failed business but medical bills!

The thread I have shared in the first tweet is bang on target!
What is MOST unfortunate is that in the 2 years since returning to India from the US, I am seeing OMNIOUS signs that India is headed in the EXACT same direction!

I read people complaining about indifferent inter personal treatment, costly bills, failure of insurance companies
to pay what they are supposed to, doctors being rushed and not being able to spend adequate time with each patient, increasing insurance premiums etc.

The good news is that doctors in India are WORLD CLASS! A lot of them are trained overseas.
But it is a matter of time before they will be surrounded by so many layers of the "Healthcare system" that there will be ZERO personal relationship between the doctor and patient.

That will be a sad day!

#Healthcare #Medicaltreatment #Doctors #hospitals #India #America

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More from @Gautaamm

6 Dec
Someone I know will soon become a F1 parent! (F1=student visa in the US).

So I offered to share a few pointers I had put together year ago for students moving to the US for higher studies.

Figured why not share it here.

#F1visa #America #Masters #students #India #Pune
Before you leave:
1.Scan every single certificate (mark sheet degree cert, birth, aadhar, Pan etc) and save in a secure place. Easiest is to open an email address only for documents. Make 4 sets of copies, 2 with your parents 2 with you.
2.Spend AS MUCH time with your parents as possible. It still will feel inadequate once you are there.
3.Buy multiple sweaters, jackets, scarves, wollen caps, gloves, wollen socks etc.
Read 14 tweets
3 Dec
#Thread

One of the BIGGEST advantages of having studied in the US, specially at an Ivy League school in a city like Philadelphia is the exposure I received to 2 ethnicities:

Judaism and African Americans.
The FIRST thing I was educated on by my friends at Penn Dental was what NOT to say to and about them. And I wish to share that here as I saw a tweet recently break one of the rules.

Judaism: Any one who has studied history knows who Hitler, also known as "The Fuhrer" was.
He basically is responsible for massacre for millions of people purely because they belonged to the Jewish faith.

What he has done, rather had done, is TERRIBLE and almost nothing can come close to it in terms of cruelty, insensitivity, racial bias and inhumanity.
Read 10 tweets
23 Oct
#Thread on Calcium defficiency, osteoporosis and dental treatment:

In the last one month, I have treated at least 4 females in their 60's, who have had serious Calcium defficiency. One of them is being treated for osteoporosis while two of them are borderline cases.
"Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle — so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses such as bending over or coughing can cause a fracture. Osteoporosis-related fractures most commonly occur in the hip, wrist or spine.
Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn't keep up with the loss of old bone."

Source: mayoclinic.org/diseases-condi….
Read 10 tweets
22 Oct
#thread on dentists and X-rays....

Patients often are resistant to dentists taking xrays.

More than anything, they benefit directly from appropriate and adequate X-rays.

For starters, here’s how safe digital dental X-rays are: Image
Next they help reveal a lot of information.

Eg.anytime I take a tooth out, I take an X-ray AFTER to ensure it’s all out.

This patient came in yesterday for an infected tooth. It was so damaged it came out in 6 pieces literally! Image
There was no way to know if it was all out! Except taking an X-ray!

And look what it showed!

A small sliver had lodged itself in the socket!

This would have gotten reinfected and would not have healed for a long time.

It also would have caused a loss of trust. Image
Read 5 tweets
14 Aug
Getting a lot of questions about kids and brushing so a quick thread:

Children have 20 primary teeth which start erupting at age 6 months and continue till around the 5 year mark. (see image)

The need for "brushing' starts at birth but is done on the gums initially.
After the baby is fed, either via breast feeding or the bottle, use a clean cotton handkerchief and room temp boiled water to gently clean the gums.

The teeth are forming under the gums and if the milk is left behind it can see through and cause cavities.

The same is done
for teeth when they erupt.

Around the 1 years mark, it is a good idea to start the process of brushing the teeth. There are many wonderful types of infant brushes available which can be used for the same. This is a popular one but can sometimes be too big and hence a challenge.
Read 9 tweets
2 Aug
The first Indian commentator I loved and respected was the one and only SMG. Not so much for his skills as one but for his courage to "stand up" to the big boys aka England and Australia on air.

He made his debut in 1990 and while it was expected for ex players to be neutral
on air, it was essential that someone stand up to the double standards going on in world cricket at that time.

His most famous story, which I think occurred while he was captain, was when he refused to allow batsmen to get drinks in between overs on their own. The argument was
that the English and Australian players were not used to the extreme heat and needed additional water to sustain themselves on the field.

His response was that the Indian players were not used to the extreme English cold and so they should also be allowed a heater in the slips
Read 23 tweets

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