Aug 16, 2022·edited Aug 16, 2022Liked by Cheryl A. Ossola
My wife and I were in Italy about three years ago and picked up a nasty crud (Guy sneezed on us the first day in Rome). Eventually, we had to seek medical attention for steroid bursts to calm our coughs. My wife was seen in Florence, while I had a house call from a doc in Rome. Appts, labs, Xrays, and meds totaled 70 euros (that's for both of us). Care, as you've described was attentive and competent. Like you, Cheryl, we're medical and continue to wonder why American voters support the guys who think healthcare is a privilege. As you point out, the Red Scare it seems to provoke is contradicted by the embrace of Social Security, Medicare, public schools, and publicly regulated utilities.
“Socialized medicine kicks ass, baby.” Indeed. My wife is a nurse practitioner, so I hear the other side of that, and it ain’t pretty. American medicine is a clusterfuck. That’s unlikely to change any time soon. Why? ‘Cuz it’s not about healthcare; it’s about money.
Terrific post, Cheryl. I'd love it if more Americans knew how health systems like ours here work. I got a huge response when I posted about doctor visits--the thought that a doctor would actually pick up the phone, express concern, and ask me to come visit that very afternoon apparently touched a nerve.
Thank you for such a wonderful account! I'll share it to my FB. It certainly highlights the things we, as Europeans, take for granted when it comes to healthcare! I'm pleased that you had such a good experience of the health service in Italy. I do hope they correctly identified and treated accordingly your illness. Ciao.
Excellent summary...informative AND enjoyable! I appreciate your comparison with the US health system...when I try to describe it to Europeans they are incredulous; can't understand why we put up with it. Neither do I, now.
Great read, thank you! We are hoping to move from the UK to Italy at some point over the next few years so I am loving your Italian writings. Had to chuckle though - Brits are still Europeans by definition, we only left the European Union - a politic and economic single market construct for member states, originally post war unifying process, but didn't become what it is now formally until as recently as 1993 . Interestingly the Vatican is also a European state but not in the EU (there are also others) I think the UK might be the first to leave it though - I'm not sure. 😊
This is wonderful. Only you could make a week+ in the hospital an enjoyable adventure! I, too, had a hospital experience in Italy, when a wrist I fractured in the United States (complete with pins protruding) had become infected in Italy and required surgery. Thank you, Cheryl!
My wife and I were in Italy about three years ago and picked up a nasty crud (Guy sneezed on us the first day in Rome). Eventually, we had to seek medical attention for steroid bursts to calm our coughs. My wife was seen in Florence, while I had a house call from a doc in Rome. Appts, labs, Xrays, and meds totaled 70 euros (that's for both of us). Care, as you've described was attentive and competent. Like you, Cheryl, we're medical and continue to wonder why American voters support the guys who think healthcare is a privilege. As you point out, the Red Scare it seems to provoke is contradicted by the embrace of Social Security, Medicare, public schools, and publicly regulated utilities.
“Socialized medicine kicks ass, baby.” Indeed. My wife is a nurse practitioner, so I hear the other side of that, and it ain’t pretty. American medicine is a clusterfuck. That’s unlikely to change any time soon. Why? ‘Cuz it’s not about healthcare; it’s about money.
Turns out we have it backasswards. 😳🤷🏻♂️
Terrific post, Cheryl. I'd love it if more Americans knew how health systems like ours here work. I got a huge response when I posted about doctor visits--the thought that a doctor would actually pick up the phone, express concern, and ask me to come visit that very afternoon apparently touched a nerve.
Thank you for such a wonderful account! I'll share it to my FB. It certainly highlights the things we, as Europeans, take for granted when it comes to healthcare! I'm pleased that you had such a good experience of the health service in Italy. I do hope they correctly identified and treated accordingly your illness. Ciao.
Absolutely fabulous. I’m going to share it on my Facebook wall. You are such a gifted writer! I hate that you were sick, though--and HOW’S YOUR DOG?
$6500 for eight days in US hospital? Oh no, at least double that. Triple?
Great reading of your experience. Am saving to share with others. I did know much of this generically but really enjoyed your details.
Excellent summary...informative AND enjoyable! I appreciate your comparison with the US health system...when I try to describe it to Europeans they are incredulous; can't understand why we put up with it. Neither do I, now.
Great read, thank you! We are hoping to move from the UK to Italy at some point over the next few years so I am loving your Italian writings. Had to chuckle though - Brits are still Europeans by definition, we only left the European Union - a politic and economic single market construct for member states, originally post war unifying process, but didn't become what it is now formally until as recently as 1993 . Interestingly the Vatican is also a European state but not in the EU (there are also others) I think the UK might be the first to leave it though - I'm not sure. 😊
Terrific, in the English sense, not the Italian.
This is wonderful. Only you could make a week+ in the hospital an enjoyable adventure! I, too, had a hospital experience in Italy, when a wrist I fractured in the United States (complete with pins protruding) had become infected in Italy and required surgery. Thank you, Cheryl!
Thoroughly enjoyed!
Thoroughly enjoyed!