dd20040817 - Casualties of the medical "business"

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A disturbing pair of stories for the "weird but true" file

Because of a stalemate between our wonderfully efficient and compassionate Medicaid system and a Utah hospital, a young woman almost lost her head - literally.

According to recent Associated Press item, the 22-year-old victim of a car accident needed major post-trauma skull surgery that involved removing nearly half her skull to treat brain bleeding and save her life. She came through the surgery just fine, and the second surgery - to replace the section of skull removed in the initial operation - was scheduled for one month later...

But the night before this second procedure, the hospital canceled it because Medicaid (the victim had no health insurance) hadn't approved payment for the procedure yet! So what happened? The poor girl was stuck without an intact skull for nearly 4 months while they hashed it out. Aside from having to wear a hockey helmet every waking moment of this time to protect her soft cranium, she also experienced disturbing nighttime brain shifting that left her in excruciating pain.

It wasn't until she got a local TV station involved that progress occurred - her mother's insurance company (in a rare turn as the "hero") stepped up and paid the bills while Medicaid adjudicated as to her eligibility. As of the time of the AP story's writing, they still hadn't decided.

And in another horrific story of patient victim-hood, an Australian man was rushed to the hospital holding his own still-attached stomach in his hands, according to a recent BBC story. Apparently, the hospital removed the man's sutures and abdominal staples too soon after an earlier tumor-removal procedure. Why? Probably because recovery room time and repeated monitoring visits cost too much money...

What do these two stories have in common? They're both about people who suffered grievously because of cost-cutting decisions or the "pass-the-buck" mentality of one player or another in the medical "business." But what all the hospital, government and insurance company bean-counters should remember is this: There are real people at the bottom line of their balance sheets - not sheep or some other expendable commodity.
Until we're more than just numbers to them, travesties like this will continue to happen.

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Heartening news for sweethearts old and new

As you may have noticed, a recurring theme in my Daily Dose missives over the last year or so (most recently on 5/25/04) has been the very real, very measurable effect our personal lives have on our health - especially on the ol' ticker.

And in stark contrast to what the 50%-plus divorce rate in our country might imply about marriage's effect on blood pressure (which goes up when tension flares), new research shows that married folks who live with their spouses enjoyed a significant reduction in their risk of hypertension when compared to those who were divorced or separated.

What do I mean by significant? How about an OVER 50% reduction in rates of high blood pressure.

According to the recent WebMD report, researchers were unable to pinpoint exactly why such spouseless circumstances lead to a higher incidence of hypertension, but they theorized that social isolation, a lack of domestic support, and economic factors all played a role. The study also found the rate of high blood pressure among widowed people to be nearly as high as those who were divorced.

My advice? Stay married - you'll live longer. Not just because of the blood pressure angle (Lowering BP isn't always such a crucial factor in heart health anyway), but for the myriad of other benefits you won't realize you have until they're gone. And if you've got friends who are on their own for whatever reason - divorce, separation, or the untimely death of their beloved, reach out to them as often as you can.

The more significant and meaningful a presence you can be in their lives, the longer they'll live, too.

Never divorcing myself from truths hard or heart-warming,

William Campbell Douglass II, MD

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Health Disclaimer! The information provided on this site should not be construed as personal medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken based solely on the contents of this site. Readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being.