Three Cheers for the Military Medical System
Jul 09 2010
Yes, you read that right.
We recently had a bit of experience with the local non-military medical system – you know, the one that is in disarray. This was new to us. Living in Germany, we had all medical appointments and such on base. Well, let me add that we did experience one medical appointment on the German economy – and it was a great experience. We were visiting Garmisch, Germany and my mother-in-law needed a doctor’s appointment. The British hostess of our B&B called the local doctor and we had an appointment within an hour, and only a two block walk.
We saw the doctor; didn’t have a wait; he did some tests; and, we walked away with the prescription: all for about 30 euros. The best thing though – the doctor’s name was Dr. Seuss (insert Green Eggs and Ham jokes here: would you like your shots in house, would you like them with a mouse…).
Back in Colorado, my father is visiting and we had to go the local ER due to an eye problem he had. The doc was nice but couldn’t see behind my dad’s retina, so he sent us to one of their specialists. In the military clinics, I’m used to walking down the hall to see the specialist. Here, I have to drive five miles to see the specialist.
At specialist #1, we fill out the same forms we did at the ER and the doc takes the same initial tests as at the ER. Finally, we get to the “behind the retina” exam – he can’t see anything, so we are referred to specialist #2. (Isn’t this the reason we were sent to specialist #1 – are these people in cahoots?)
After a six mile drive, we arrive to more of the same forms and the same tests. Finally though, specialist #2 gets behind the retina and prescribes a blood test, and suggests bed rest and a follow up appointment.
We drive five more miles to the blood test (forgive me Landstuhl Medical Center for complaining about long walks down your corridors) and we’re done.
While the docs were all nice, the experience made me thankful for our military medical system – even if just for the electronic records system that eliminates filling out redundant forms and allows the specialists to know what has been done previously.
Oh, and my dad is fine.
Amen, amen. After 18 years as a consumer of both military and (yes, gasp – socialized!) German care, I am appalled at the expense, waste, and lack of conformity and common sense in the US civilian system. But we’ll never convince the diehards in the US it works..meanwhile, I’ll pay my 30 Euros for a walk-in appt and excellent care. Miss you here, Mary Claire -
Glad to hear your dad is fine…hope his insurance covers all those docs! I just had a lesion removed from my back on Monday…30 mile drive to the doctor’s office, 15 minutes in the office, bill was $188 (not including the pathology fee which will be billed separately). Covered by insurance–$0.
@Rob, thanks, my dad is fine and back in Scottsdale, AZ. His Medicare and supplemental covered everything fortunately. Sorry to hear about your med costs – why didn’t the coverage cover it, or was it under your deductible?