HealthyConcerns.com

Excellent first-hand comparison of US and UK health care systems

While I agree that anecdotal evidence is not sufficient to know everything there is about the health care debate, Strawberry from Potential and Expectations has gone to great lengths to make a rational comparison of her experience of the US and UK health care systems, and to share a little of her observations of the UK attitude towards healthcare, as an American expat who lived there for years. The post is entitled "This American's Experience of Britain's Healthcare System", and that title is indicative of her approach. No ideology or inflammatory rhetoric to be found.

I like the fact that she discusses how her attitude towards the UK NHS changed over time, how she began to be able to separate what were system issues and what were simply people issues, how she realized that her experience in the US was quite different between when she was a dependent on her parent's awesome health plan and when she was a consumer of her own not-quite-so-awesome plan. Finally, I like how she notes that anecdotal though her own stories may be, you can certainly compare the cost per capita of healthcare between the two countries and the results of standard measures of healthcare results between the two countries (like life expectancy). Hint: The US does not top Britain on either count. These are objective stats to go along with subjective stories.

There are over 350 comments, and while I didn't read them all, the ones I read stayed basically sane and polite. 

Some stuff I already knew (though plenty of us here don't seem to know them), but I learned some new stuff too. It's a long, thorough, well-written post, and I recommend you read it. 

I'm much nicer than some bloggers

OK, pet peeve rant ahead: I hate, hate, hate when a site comes up with some "Top 10 list", and then posts it in the most annoying time-wasting way possible. 

Top 10 lists are a little annoying to begin with. I can't abide Top 10 lists about bloggers at all. I know it's supposed to be human nature, but I don't see a need to rank bloggers. There are so many different kinds of bloggers doing so many different kinds of blogs, even within the same blogging niche. Ranking is a fool's game.

I can stand Top lists of apps or devices or other geek p0rn a little better.

I've been meaning to deeply peruse these 14 Practical Ways to Use Evernote, for example.

So when FierceHealthcare posted 15 Free Healthcare Apps for the iPhone, you know I clicked.

Too bad they followed the lead of such traditional media web sites as Fast Company or Newsweek, where they make you click to a new page to see each app.

Yes, I know it drives pageviews, which drives ad revenue.

Yes, I know it increases time spent on the site, which speaks "engagement" readers have with your sites.

But both metrics are, I think, inappropriately skewed by this method of posting. Do advertisers not even visit sites like this to see ho they're getting the traffic and stats they claim to have?

So, here are their recommended apps...go to the app store and search on them and save yourself a whole lot of clicking. I clickedm so you don't have to:

1. WebMd: I downloaded this one, since it's uber-comprehensive.

2. ePocrates Rx: Apparently this one is geared towards health professionals, so I passed.

3. EmergenKey: Designed to help you keep your own health info close at hand. Knock on wood, I don't see a huge need to have this one right now. (Although it reminds me that I don't know my on blood type.

4. Diabetes Log: Also not relevant to me, and hopefully never will be.

5. Health Cloud: Tied into Google Health, which I don't use, so I passed.

6. General Medical History: A basic history template for med students. Also no relevant.

7. Headache Diary: This is intriguing. Haven't had many headaches for a while now. (Which makes me wonder if they went away coinciding with going vegan 3 years ago?)

8. Reach MD CME: For doctors.

9. iTriage: Perfect for those who want to go the next step in Googlenosing themselves!

10. ICD-9 Lite: For medical professionals looking to get proper billing codes.

11. Swine Flu Tracker: If you are a hypochondriac, OCD, germphobe or otherwise fascinated by the Swine Flu, this is the app for you.

12. Sleep Tracker: OK, as a longtime insomniac, I did indeed download this. We'll see if I *use* it. (It's created by the makers of Tylenol, FYI.)

13. Skyscape Medical Resources: Very targeted to medical professionals.

14. Natural Cures: OK, I bit and downloaded this one. Can't hurt, right?

15. MedCalc: Also for medical professionals.

So, out of 15, I decided to download and try 3. Not a good ratio. I recognize that the site is for "healthcare executives", so I realize I'm not their target audience. Then again, the article title, "15 Free Healthcare Apps for the iPhone" sounds kind of universal. If you're a layperson like me, think of all the time I saved you :)

How many and which ones will you try?

BlogHer Health Care Reform Call with Congress #2

Yesterday, BlogHer held the first in a series of conference calls with congresspeople from both sides of the aisle, kicking off with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota). 

On Wednesday September 30th, call #2 is taking place, this time with Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington). Go here to ask your question or sign up to be on the call.

I heard call #1 was awesome, with rational questions from both sides of the aisle. The recording is supposed to be posted tomorrow.

Why not take your opportunity to be part of call #2?

Want to talk to Congresspeople about health care reform?

Just a couple of days ago BlogHer announced that we will be starting a series of conference calls with Congresspeople from both sides of the aisle about health care reform. 

It was Senator Harry Reid's office that first brought us the idea. And to their credit they didn't blink when we said, sure, but we want to talk to congresspeople from both parties. And we want it to be open to BlogHer community members from both parties too. 

The first call is with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota). It's taking place this Monday at 11:30AM Pacific. Other calls with Democrats and Republicans will be forthcoming. Leave a comment on the post if you want to participate.

Nancy Watzman from the Sunlight Foundation (with whom BlogHer is partnering on our non-partisan community journalism initiative around health care reform) will be moderating these calls.

Here is Senator Klobuchar's page on health care reform from her web site. Study up and show up to ask your questions.

PS-all the usual BlogHer community guidelines about civil debate and discourse apply! Kind of unfortunate, but i do feel the need to say that!

Will we see (or rather, hear) you there?

Quick link: PCRM's 21-day Vegan Kickstart

If you've ever considered becoming vegan because for health reasons, then you might get the little boost you need by signing up for the PCRM's 21-day vegan kickstart. I signed up, even though I'm already a vegan, because after all: Who wouldn't want daily healthy tips and recipes?

And just in case you'd like some links on vegan being the healthiest way to eat:

PCRM's entire Health section

WebMD: Vegan diet good for Type-2 diabetes

NIH: Vegan proteins may reduce risk of cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular disease