The Health of Nations (and Don't Forget Australia)

"The basic costs of visits to doctors (Physicians and some specialists), accident and emergency care, and elective surgency etc are all covered as part of that package based on a set fee structure"

I'm not sure that this guy understands what "elective" surgery means i.e. medically unnecessary.

Basically, operations can be broken down into three categories, emergency (immediately medically necessary), non-elective (medically necessary but not an 'emergency') and elective (not medically necessary).

My guess is that what he meant to say is that there were delays in non-elective surgery.

(btw, is there something going on at swampland? You and the James over at Tuned-In have each produced more posts than the entire Swampland team the last couple of days....)

Re: Australian elective surgery - from the Australian government:

Elective surgery is surgery that a doctor believes to be necessary but which can be delayed for at least 24 hours. It does not cover emergency surgery or treatment, nor does it cover medical treatment. Patients are generally treated in a timely manner. However those with less urgent conditions are usually required to wait for a time and are placed on a waiting list.

http://www.health.sa.gov.au/electivesurgery/

What is elective surgery?
Outside of medical circles, many people find the term ‘elective surgery' confusing. They think that it means ‘electing' or choosing to undergo a non-essential or optional surgical procedure. This is not the case. Much of the elective surgery undertaken in Australia's hospitals is urgent and critical, such as coronary bypass operations and hip replacements, which are clearly necessary and often fundamental for a person's wellbeing. Elective surgery is any form of surgery that your doctor or health professional believes to be necessary but which can be delayed for at least 24 hours.
http://www.aodgp.gov.au/internet/wcms/Publishing.nsf/Content/health-ahca-sooph05-ins_elective.htm

Wow. Thanks James, for your high-quality research.

Heh. The Google. Elective surgery Australia. Search. Click.

But gee, Maybe I can get a job at Time Mag.

The Google. Gonzales US Attorney firing. Search. Click.

"Outside of medical circles, many people find the term ‘elective surgery' confusing. They think that it means ‘electing' or choosing to undergo a non-essential or optional surgical procedure. "

um...I stand corrected...in Brisbane!

Of course, elective surgery in the US can be unduly delayed as well. For insured persons, it is often delayed, and even denied, in the approval process at the health management orgs, some being notorious for not approving medically necessary surgery and other treatment, including cancer treatment. Uninsured persons, of course, generally don't *have* elective surgery, instead waiting until it becomes non-elective, driving them into bankruptcy and/or chained to a massive medical debt for years.