The Vent and Rant Thread

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Ah, Charlie:

Today's rantiness:

Suddenly, here in the USA, ever since the White House in their infinite wisdom (cough, choke, politicians) issued a statement that "Covid is over," all the doctors have gone no-Telemed.

Hitch

Even before Covid you could request to talk over the phone with the doctor for certain things. For other things they do want to see you. Luckily there is still the telephone consulting hour, though the biggest problem is that they never call you at the time agreed; I've had the doctor call 90 minutes after the my assigned time slot.

My sister has hay fever for which she get prescriptions since OTC meds don't work. And every year the doctor wants to have a consultation about her symptoms before prescribing them again. For years she had that consultation over the phone.

I think they don't have much choice, since we have a severe shortage of doctors/GPs in the Netherlands.

[CRussel]

Here in BC, under the old payment model, anything that the doctors did outside of actual office visits was essentially uncompensated. That's changed under the new model, but there are still significant limitations on what they can and can't do with a phone consult. OTOH, they've now enabled pharmacists to do a lot of the routine prescribing. which will definitely help.

[fum]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Suddenly, here in the USA, ever since the White House in their infinite wisdom (cough, choke, politicians) issued a statement that "Covid is over," all the doctors have gone no-Telemed.
Hitch

It always scares me, when I hear about the US healthcare. I don't know what Telemed is, but by the name alone, probably something about telephone and a doctor? Sametime, here in Denmark: It was this weekend, my wife got stung by a bee. It caused her middelfinger to sweel to double size, and it became a little black/blue. Our doctor (8 doctors in a shared practise in the town, all free) where closed, so we called the Danish 'Doctor-watch' (no payment), and the doctor we got, sent my wife a link on an sms, it opened up a video-conference, he could see the finger, prescribe some antibiotics. 10 minutes max. The finger is better now, when she is showing it to me.
I had to pay the 10 dollars for the meds, but nothing else. And I know that I pay more in taxes than in the US, but I woulden't trade you. :-)

[ownedbycats]

Yeah, it's appointments using phone or internet. The 'tele' is for telecommunications, not phone specifically.

[Deskisamess]

We are getting air quality alerts the last few days, here in northeast Ohio. This morning I read news reports that it is because of all the fires in Canada. We are pegging 164 on the meter, well into the red zone. New York is coming in well above 200.

This explains the wheezing I've been dealing with.

Stay safe those of you who are near these fires.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

We are getting air quality alerts the last few days, here in northeast Ohio. This morning I read news reports that it is because of all the fires in Canada. We are pegging 164 on the meter, well into the red zone. New York is coming in well above 200.

This explains the wheezing I've been dealing with.

Stay safe those of you who are near these fires.

We also have fires a bit south of us in New Jersey, so it was pretty distinctly smokey around here yesterday,

[poohbear_nc]

We have a Hazardous air condition warning today - in NC! From the Canadian fires. Wowzer.

[CRussel]

Remarkably, we still have clean air here (US AQI 24). Though it looks like that's going to change by Friday.

[ApK]

Today, looking outside is like looking through an amber filter. I don't recall ever seeing the air like this before.

[issybird]

We've been lucky here so far. The Nova Scotia haze was visible offshore last week; right now, the Quebec smoke is west and south. Knock wood.

Usually it's the cold fronts we import!

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by issybird

We've been lucky here so far. The Nova Scotia haze was visible offshore last week; right now, the Quebec smoke is west and south. Knock wood.

Usually it's the cold fronts we import!

Yeah - south, as in here. Didn't realize the extent of haze until I saw the traffic lights - appear bleary, foggy - thought my glasses needed cleaning until I remembered the smoke.

[Deskisamess]

I'm wondering if the air quality had something to do with what happened last night at a Jackson Browne concert we were at. About halfway through he had to stop and get something to drink, coughed a bit and kept clearing his throat. He apologized, but it didn't bother any of the sold out crowd. He did go on and finished in good form. Amazing as ever, even at 74. (I'd be a groupie if possible, love me some JB)

[CRussel]

BTW, for those of you who care about your air quality, especially in our current fire season, the Honeywell line of air purifiers are quite quiet in their low mode, and will clean a room quite quickly in their highest mode. The Model HPA300 will do a large living room/dining room quite handily. Recommended.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

I'm wondering if the air quality had something to do with what happened last night at a Jackson Browne concert we were at. About halfway through he had to stop and get something to drink

Nah, he needed the drink cuz he was Running on Empty.

Ba dum bump.

[Rumpelteazer]

One of the worse things known to mankind has happened: there's a mosquito in my bedroom.

Even worse, I can't find my electrical bug swatter. It isn't where I normally keep it, because I recently tidied up and apparently found a very logical place for, but I can't remember where.