Pandemics

What was scary to me was how unprepared the CDC was with the anthrax outbreak in 2001. I mean that's what they're there for, and anthrax is a pretty basic pathogen. Anything new and virulent comes out and I'd be seriously worried if they could handle it. But then again, these kinds of diseases have occurred throughout time, I believe, and are almost a means of population control and therefore necessary. I don't know - maybe that sounds crazy. Just thinking "out loud".
 
It was also scary how under prepared the medical system seemed when we had some Ebola cases in the US several years back ... remember how the ER just sent the guy in Texas back home, and then he returned when he had gotten much worse and by then contaminated many additional areas? Between the ease of world travel, pathogens that were once considered tropical diseases migrating north, and drug resistant strains evolving, there is a lot of potential for something bad to get out of control.
 
There is much in today's health care that concerns me.

Cancers, the rise of autoimmune diseases, the cost, the availability of healthcare for all in the United States, the lack of specialists in some fields and areas.

Many people suffer daily already without a pandemic.
 


There is much in today's health care that concerns me.

Cancers, the rise of autoimmune diseases, the cost, the availability of healthcare for all in the United States, the lack of specialists in some fields and areas.

Many people suffer daily already without a pandemic.


Very true. I've had doctors decline to run tests that should have been run (they didn't want to make the insurance company mad by running tests), which delayed treatment, had doctors tell me flat out incorrect things (that I can't get strep throat unless my kids have it), had doctors cheerfully tell me nothing was wrong when I was there in their office with symptoms (they wanted/needed to move on to the next patient rather than figuring it out, so I ended up having to seek out a specialist), had a doctor prescribe me an unusually strong not often used medicine which landed me in the ER (this was according to the ER doctor who was puzzled I would have been given this med), and know people who were discharged from the ER with untreated broken bones that hadn't been discovered. There are some really great doctors out there, and if you find one, hang onto them, because there are also some out there who really don't seem to know what they're doing.

So yes, forget pandemics, just standard medical care today requires that you be prepared to really strongly advocate for yourself, be persistent, seek out alternate opinions, and keep pushing until you get answers. Sometimes staff are more concerned with squeezing in the correct (according to the insurance company) number of patients than about addressing medical issues.
 
There are some really great doctors out there, and if you find one, hang onto them, because there are also some out there who really don't seem to know what they're doing.

This is why I have been staying with my current medical team even though they are out of network. It stinks to have to pay so much more, but the people I have been seeing for different issues have all been amazing. They take their time, they listen, and they actually seem up to date on current findings and treatments.
 


Agreed. There are many areas of the country where the health care system is slowly disappearing. Those rural hospitals are frequently closing.

These are the same areas voting against health care entitlements. And I’m not shocked. It has to be challenging to find healthcare professionals with massive student loans willing to live in rural America.
 
Last edited:
These are the same areas voting against health care entitlements. And I’m not shocked. It has to be challenging to find healthcare professionals with massive student loans willing to live in rural America.

I have 2 sons studying health care fields in college right now.

One is very interested in practicing in a rural area as there are scholarships and loan forgiveness programs offered to those who serve these areas for a certain number of years.
 
TBH I'm more concerned with the everyday risks of tick and mosquito borne diseases that I face 9 months out of the year.
 
I don’t think the 2 people I know that will continue to suffer side effects of Lyme disease would agree with you. To them it was and is nasty.

Exactly. There are already pathogens, such as lyme disease, wreaking havoc on people for years after they were contracted.

Epstein Barr virus is another and there are many unknown viruses and fungis now being linked to other diseases that people develop later in life.
 
It has to be challenging to find healthcare professionals with massive student loans willing to live in rural America.

Graduating med students willing to work in rural medicine will have loan forgiveness. It is unbelievable how many programs will wipe out debt for healthcare professionals that are willing to head to rural areas.

Unfortunately, we have raised a generation of "designer kids" that would rather have debt than head to these rural areas. Oh well. Their decision.
 
Graduating med students willing to work in rural medicine will have loan forgiveness. It is unbelievable how many programs will wipe out debt for healthcare professionals that are willing to head to rural areas.

Unfortunately, we have raised a generation of "designer kids" that would rather have debt than head to these rural areas. Oh well. Their decision.

Google rural flight.
 
I have 2 sons studying health care fields in college right now.

One is very interested in practicing in a rural area as there are scholarships and loan forgiveness programs offered to those who serve these areas for a certain number of years.
Kudos to your son! You raised a smart cookie!
 
I want to remind everyone that although it's okay to disagree, it is not okay to start insulting each other and arguing. Please remember to be courteous on these boards.
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!






Top