amormehta
07-31-2004, 10:06 AM
Hey everyone,
So I'm in Prague now, coming back home tomorrow. Just wanted to share some of my thoughts regarding the Prague selective (which is offered to all SGUSOM students as well as students from US medical schools). I really enjoyed my 3 weeks in Prague, it was an experience that I'll always remember. Some of the things that I learned will be with me for my career.
I think it is really good that we SGU students do get to appreciate the differences in the health care systems of countries other than the US. In the Czech republic, there is universal coverage as the citizens all hold a national health insurance policy (that they pay into with taxes, etc.). From an American capitalist's perspective, I came to the Czech republic thinking that the standard of medical care would be subpar; the physicians would generally be unhappy with their profession and the patients would suffer as a result. Boy was I wrong.
First of all, I have never seen such reverence towards physicians as some of the Czech people had towards their respective ones. Some of these doctors are practically worshipped by their patients. The physicians that I was able to shadow were, mind you, of the best and brightest in the Czech republic, if not the world. So my take on the Czech healthcare system is a little skewed, as I was witnessing everything through a rosy lens. But generally, I felt that the physicians seemed to spend more time with their patients, had undeniably exceptional rapport with their patients and made their patients feel comfortable. The patients, for the most part, were very satisfied with their physicians. I can go on and on, but I'll just be brief and say that I felt that physicians were generally happier than their American counterparts and the patients were less apt to blaming their doctors for any complications.
I've also started to revise my view on universal healthcare. As the idealist I am, I feel that everyone deserves a right to healthcare, but the practical man in me knows that in the US......this ideal clashes with the free-market system we have in place that is so distinctly American. Even hints at making American healthcare "universal" would edge the conservative hawks of American society to cry foul, alleging that we'd be going one step closer to "Godless" red socialist society that would be the downfall of our nation as we know it. So I don't think that universal healthcare coverage is feasible in this time of American history. BUT......and mind you, I'm thinking out loud on this one......what if there was a universal plan where yes, if you could afford private insurance, you could get it, but if you couldn't afford private insurance, there were a national plan that you could pay into (through income tax, whatever). I don't know much about healthcare policy and insurance and health law so all of you policy wonks, don't shout me out, because I'm ignorant on those matters.
I do think that eventually US must go towards some sort of universal system, however the only way that could happen is if the bottom line is not the biggest concern in healthcare. I do not believe that physicians, or any health professional can run their practices in the traditional business sense, if their objective is to provide the best possible care for the patient. I also don't believe that massive amounts of income will guarantee physician happiness. The fact is, some of the doctors I met here in the Czech republic seem to be the happiest people in the world regarding their profession and they don't make even a quarter of what the average US doc makes. I think true happiness in the field stems from the atmosphere in which one works. More time with patients, less bureacracy, less paperwork more clinical work.....these are the things that need to be resolved for US physician satisfaction to improve....I think.
Anyway, not to start an opinion-laden diatribe.....I'll just talk more about Prague. So the city is now one of my most favorite cities in the world. The people all have been really nice, even though I am at a loss due to the lack of knowledge I have in Czech language. The city is beautiful, filled with buildings that are much older than the oldest of old building in the US. For example, buildings that were erected in the 15th century are commonplace and not that old according to locals. Prague also was one of the few major cities in Europe that was not destroyed in a war. The Czech people, although sometimes are criticized for never fighting, did manage to save their cities in all their grandeur due to that trait. Invading armies never had to destroy the city to quell a violently resistant people.
The Czech people are very proud of Prague. I would be too if I were a local denizen. Every block you walk there are beautiful baroque and Art Nouveau buildings. The city is very easy to get around thanks to a stellar public transit system. The food is wonderful and served in LARGE portions....if you're a meat and potatoes lover this is your place to be. The beer.....let me tell you about the beer; MY GOD, the BEST I've ever had. And soooooo cheap. You can get a lot for a dollar here.
Anyway, to anyone thinking about doing the PRague selective in the future, I would highly suggest it. Not only do you have a lot of time to just travel around central and eastern Europe and see a lot of what Prague has to offer, you also gain keen insights into the practice of your future profession. Yeah, the flight over here was kind of expensive, but I view it as an expense worth it for sure.
Sorry for the long post.
So I'm in Prague now, coming back home tomorrow. Just wanted to share some of my thoughts regarding the Prague selective (which is offered to all SGUSOM students as well as students from US medical schools). I really enjoyed my 3 weeks in Prague, it was an experience that I'll always remember. Some of the things that I learned will be with me for my career.
I think it is really good that we SGU students do get to appreciate the differences in the health care systems of countries other than the US. In the Czech republic, there is universal coverage as the citizens all hold a national health insurance policy (that they pay into with taxes, etc.). From an American capitalist's perspective, I came to the Czech republic thinking that the standard of medical care would be subpar; the physicians would generally be unhappy with their profession and the patients would suffer as a result. Boy was I wrong.
First of all, I have never seen such reverence towards physicians as some of the Czech people had towards their respective ones. Some of these doctors are practically worshipped by their patients. The physicians that I was able to shadow were, mind you, of the best and brightest in the Czech republic, if not the world. So my take on the Czech healthcare system is a little skewed, as I was witnessing everything through a rosy lens. But generally, I felt that the physicians seemed to spend more time with their patients, had undeniably exceptional rapport with their patients and made their patients feel comfortable. The patients, for the most part, were very satisfied with their physicians. I can go on and on, but I'll just be brief and say that I felt that physicians were generally happier than their American counterparts and the patients were less apt to blaming their doctors for any complications.
I've also started to revise my view on universal healthcare. As the idealist I am, I feel that everyone deserves a right to healthcare, but the practical man in me knows that in the US......this ideal clashes with the free-market system we have in place that is so distinctly American. Even hints at making American healthcare "universal" would edge the conservative hawks of American society to cry foul, alleging that we'd be going one step closer to "Godless" red socialist society that would be the downfall of our nation as we know it. So I don't think that universal healthcare coverage is feasible in this time of American history. BUT......and mind you, I'm thinking out loud on this one......what if there was a universal plan where yes, if you could afford private insurance, you could get it, but if you couldn't afford private insurance, there were a national plan that you could pay into (through income tax, whatever). I don't know much about healthcare policy and insurance and health law so all of you policy wonks, don't shout me out, because I'm ignorant on those matters.
I do think that eventually US must go towards some sort of universal system, however the only way that could happen is if the bottom line is not the biggest concern in healthcare. I do not believe that physicians, or any health professional can run their practices in the traditional business sense, if their objective is to provide the best possible care for the patient. I also don't believe that massive amounts of income will guarantee physician happiness. The fact is, some of the doctors I met here in the Czech republic seem to be the happiest people in the world regarding their profession and they don't make even a quarter of what the average US doc makes. I think true happiness in the field stems from the atmosphere in which one works. More time with patients, less bureacracy, less paperwork more clinical work.....these are the things that need to be resolved for US physician satisfaction to improve....I think.
Anyway, not to start an opinion-laden diatribe.....I'll just talk more about Prague. So the city is now one of my most favorite cities in the world. The people all have been really nice, even though I am at a loss due to the lack of knowledge I have in Czech language. The city is beautiful, filled with buildings that are much older than the oldest of old building in the US. For example, buildings that were erected in the 15th century are commonplace and not that old according to locals. Prague also was one of the few major cities in Europe that was not destroyed in a war. The Czech people, although sometimes are criticized for never fighting, did manage to save their cities in all their grandeur due to that trait. Invading armies never had to destroy the city to quell a violently resistant people.
The Czech people are very proud of Prague. I would be too if I were a local denizen. Every block you walk there are beautiful baroque and Art Nouveau buildings. The city is very easy to get around thanks to a stellar public transit system. The food is wonderful and served in LARGE portions....if you're a meat and potatoes lover this is your place to be. The beer.....let me tell you about the beer; MY GOD, the BEST I've ever had. And soooooo cheap. You can get a lot for a dollar here.
Anyway, to anyone thinking about doing the PRague selective in the future, I would highly suggest it. Not only do you have a lot of time to just travel around central and eastern Europe and see a lot of what Prague has to offer, you also gain keen insights into the practice of your future profession. Yeah, the flight over here was kind of expensive, but I view it as an expense worth it for sure.
Sorry for the long post.