Re:U.S. Life Expectancy Drops for Third Year in a Row (2018)
by LinuxBender on Wednesday July 03, 2019 @01:33PM
(#20346510)
How did an intern prescribe something to you? That should not be possible. Also, codeine isn't a treatment for strep. They should have given you antibiotics after diagnosing a throat swab.
Re:U.S. Life Expectancy Drops for Third Year in a Row (2018)
by rdtsc on Wednesday July 03, 2019 @02:15PM
(#20346960)
I was in pain and I guess after checking that my throat wasn't going to close completely he gave me something for the "pain".
> How did an intern prescribe something to you?
He seemed young enough to be intern. I didn't specifically check his age or credentials.
Re:U.S. Life Expectancy Drops for Third Year in a Row (2018)
by LinuxBender on Wednesday July 03, 2019 @02:19PM
(#20346999)
Perhaps a young doctor. :-) They should have advised against you leaving until they did a throat culture. It's rare, but strep can develop into a life threatening condition.
Re:U.S. Life Expectancy Drops for Third Year in a Row (2018)
by masonic on Thursday July 04, 2019 @05:19AM
(#20352948)
This does not make sense on several levels:
1) strep throat is not an appropriate use of the ER.
2) codeine is not a course of treatment for strep or any other communicable disease. A course of antibiotics is mandatory.
3) strep infection cannot be diagnosed at first sight. Culturing is required.
Re:U.S. Life Expectancy Drops for Third Year in a Row (2018)
by rdtsc on Thursday July 04, 2019 @10:44AM
(#20355024)
1) I had no idea what it was, I was just thinking my throat was going to close. They never did a culture. I was sent out in 10-15 minutes after I was seen.
2) I was expecting some antibiotics. But because I said I was in pain they gave me a "pain" pill I guess and sent me on my way.
3) For sure. I was expecting them to do some better diagnostics. Certainly after charging $400 (in early 2000's money, I would probably be more now).
Even if there wasn't a monopoly I can only imagine the insurance company advising clients to use specific hand signals to indicate which network they belong to so the ambulance driver knows where to drive if you're incapacitated and can't speak. "Raise and wiggle three fingers for Blue Cross Blue Shield, and two for Anthem". Or maybe have everyone get tattoos on their arms with their insurance network details.