Nationalized medicine is a bad plan

I grew up in Canada and have such a hard time understanding why people fear the system so much. The Canadian system is actually part government (base level of care) and part private (supplemental benefits for drugs, dental and eye care etc.). I was fortunate to have base and supplemental coverage which meant I didn't pay for doctor visits, drugs, hospital stays or anything else. I actually had several hospital stays during my childhood that would have likely bankrupted my parents if we had no coverage or limited coverage as some do here.

I am not saying that it is the best system but there are elements of it that we should be adopting in this country. However, the fragmentation will make it harder to do so in the US.

For example Canada has purchased the Amalga system from Microsoft. The software integrates medical data from all systems used to deliver healthcare. It is then reported thru another system called Health Vault so that the data is accessible to healthcare providers and patients across the country. Think about the power of that. If you move, the providers in your new city or province for that matter will be able to access your records on demand. It'll reduce the number of repeat tests, limit adverse drug interactions and empower doctors with the information they need to keep you healthy. I heard Dr. Bill Crounse from Microsoft talk about how Canada is using the system and then he said with a laugh "I have to say that the Canadian system is ahead of the US".

I can't even tell you how excited I was to hear about what Canada was doing and that other countries were following their lead. There may be a day when healthcare providers worldwide will be able to access our medical records. Personally I am hoping that it will be with my thumb print so that if I am ever injured and lying unconscious in some ER in a far off land, the providers there will know who I am and how to best treat me. There are currently only a few healthcare systems in the US implementing Amalga and Health Vault. Many large providers are implementing systems that tie the patient to their provider network. It works if you as the patient never have a need to see someone outside that network. It wouldn't work for me because I travel for work and pleasure.

Hopefully by automating the system and squeezing out the unneccessary spending Canada will be able to continue providing care for their citizens and retain the professionals and specialists needed to provide it. However, I don't know whether or not pay is the only reason doctors leave Canada. I would be interested in learning more.