First wave of cuts hits state-owned hospitals in East Hawaii

[hawaiian by heart]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

Where did I say there was "bad medical care" on Oahu?

Although you haven't been to Hawaii in 40 years you wouldn't know this but Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the United States. The medical care can't be all that bad.

List of U.S. states by life expectancy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ha ha ha, Truth vipe, I did know that, good life expectancy in Hawaii really has little to do with the medical care as much as ones attitudes and lifestyles. But heck i guess because you haven't lived long on Hawaii and stuff like that isn't really in your field or scope of expertise about Hawaii, it understandable you didn't know despite living there.

What Hawaii Can Teach The Rest of America About Living Better

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by hawaiian by heart

Ha ha ha, Truth vipe, I did know that, good life expectancy in Hawaii really has little to do with the medical care as much as ones attitudes and lifestyles.

That is simply not true - again.

If we take that at face value - then one would deduce Native Hawaiians have a poorer attitude and lifestyle than the Chinese or Japanese in Hawaii since they don't live as long. And that genes have no factor (like being Asian) in Hawaii and one simply needs to have a great attitude and lifestyle to live as long as the typical Chinese or Japanese in Hawaii.

[hawaiian by heart]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

That is simply not true - again.

If we take that at face value - then one would deduce Native Hawaiians have a poorer attitude and lifestyle than the Chinese or Japanese in Hawaii since they don't live as long. And that genes have no factor (like being Asian) in Hawaii and one simply needs to have a great attitude and lifestyle to live as long as the typical Chinese or Japanese in Hawaii.

The simple truth is everything has a factor, genetics, attitude, lifestyles and medical care, not what you were implying when you responded to me. Yes having only 2 specialist in an island state for a million plus population is in my opinion bad medical care despite the care of service those docs give.

further the fact that locals in Hawaii have a tendency to live longer and are happier then the rest of the country has more to do with Genes, Hawaiian Time, Sunshine and Fresh Air, Fresh Food and Exercise, Looking on the Bright Side, Strong Ohanas and communities ties then anything else.

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

I didn't say Hawaii had the highest life expectancy due to medical care - I pointed out "it can't be all that bad"

Generally, rural areas have lower life expectancy than urban areas so that makes perfect Hawaii County has a lower life expectancy than those on Oahu.

"Accidents, cardiovascular disease, COPD and lung cancer accounted for 70 percent of the overall rural–urban gap in life expectancy and 54 percent of the life expectancy gap between the urban rich and rural poor in 2005 to 2009.

A number of factors likely explain the disparity, said SIngh. “When compared to urban areas, rural areas have higher rates of both smoking and lung cancer, along with obesity, yet reduced access to health care services. Additionally, rural residents have a lower median family income, higher poverty rate and fewer have college degrees."

Gap in Life Expectancy Between Rural and Urban Residents Is Growing | Center for Advancing Health

Instead of quoting an article about Gopal K. Singh's "Widening Rural-Urban Disparities in Life Expectancy, U.S., 1969-2009" study, it's more enlightening to peruse a copy of the actual study itself. Here's a link…
http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0...13)00590-4/pdf

Some of the more interesting findings in the study are as follows:

1. Wealth and rurality level had a negligible impact on the life expectancy of "whites," "Hispanics," and "Asians and Pacific Islanders";
2. Affluent blacks" in non-metro areas had a greater life expectancy than those in metro areas; and
3. The life expectancy of "American Indians" in metro areas was an average of 11 years higher than those in non-metro areas.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Jonah K

Instead of quoting an article about Gopal K. Singh's "Widening Rural-Urban Disparities in Life Expectancy, U.S., 1969-2009" study, it's more enlightening to peruse a copy of the actual study itself. Here's a link…
http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0...13)00590-4/pdf

Perhaps it is just easiest to focus on Page 1:

Conclusions: Between 1969 and 2009, residents in metropolitan areas experienced larger gains in life expectancy than those in nonmetropolitan areas, contributing to the widening gap.

My interpretation: If you live in a rural area - you shouldn't expect to live as long as those who don't live in a rural area. Therefore, if you live in Hawaii and don't live in Honolulu County, don't expect to live as long as though who do......

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

My interpretation would be: if you have money you have access to good medical care and treatment if you need it. Hence, you can live longer. If you don't, you get sick and die quicker.

It all boils down to the almighty dollar. Of course it is just as true if you have a serious, life ending illness no amount of money can make you well, no matter what the treatment is.

The people that complain about how the "poor" just go to the ER and get treatment don't know what they're talking about.

Personally, I think everyone should have basic medical care no matter what. I've seen the tab from a hospital stay and it's insane...and you wind up paying even with insurance that you pay into every week.

Yes, I divert. I apologize.

[Mikala43]

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

The people that complain about how the "poor" just go to the ER and get treatment don't know what they're talking about.

While I don't know the statistics and have any in-depth knowledge this has been a huge point with social services and medical providers for years now.

I was just talking with someone in the health field and they were talking about how women who have just given birth are normally sent home the next day, but a homeless woman will be kept for usually around a week because if anything happens they get sued.

I can tell you when I was young and uninsured, I wouldn't go to the doctor, but used the ER when it turned into an emergency. It's just what broke people do.

I have spent a lot of time in emergency rooms unfortunately, and have seen kids brought in with colds and heard patients telling the admitting clerk they were there because their back had been hurting... all kinds of minor issues.

I've seen it, heard about it from people who work with it, and seen it in the papers. I'm relatively comfortable it happens.

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

Perhaps it is just easiest to focus on Page 1:

Conclusions: Between 1969 and 2009, residents in metropolitan areas experienced larger gains in life expectancy than those in nonmetropolitan areas, contributing to the widening gap.

Of course, by not adequately analyzing all of the data included in the report, one is liable to reach the wrong conclusion(s). One actually has to read the "discussion" at the bottom of the first column on page e27 to realize that the study isn't really that applicable to Hawaiʻi…

This study has limitations. Life expectancy estimates for Hispanics, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Alaska Natives should be interpreted with caution as vital statistics–based mortality rates for these groups tend to be underestimated by 5%, 7%, and 30%, respectively. Second, the use of the 1990 census data to define area-poverty groups in 1969–1971 is a limitation. Third, the socioeconomic measure, county-level poverty rate, could vary greatly across neighborhoods or census tracts within a given county.

Originally Posted by whtviper1

My interpretation: If you live in a rural area - you shouldn't expect to live as long as those who don't live in a rural area. Therefore, if you live in Hawaii and don't live in Honolulu County, don't expect to live as long as though who do......

Overall, there's only a 1.8 year difference in overall life expectancy for folks residing in the City and County of Honolulu and those who reside in the County of Hawaiʻi. However, considering that elderly folks are more liable to be killed while crossing the street in the more urbanized areas of the City and County of Honolulu, it's pretty much a "statistical wash."
Don't Walk: Hawaii Pedestrians, Especially Elderly, Die At High Rate - Civil Beat

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Originally Posted by Mikala43

While I don't know the statistics and have any in-depth knowledge this has been a huge point with social services and medical providers for years now.

I was just talking with someone in the health field and they were talking about how women who have just given birth are normally sent home the next day, but a homeless woman will be kept for usually around a week because if anything happens they get sued.

I can tell you when I was young and uninsured, I wouldn't go to the doctor, but used the ER when it turned into an emergency. It's just what broke people do.

I have spent a lot of time in emergency rooms unfortunately, and have seen kids brought in with colds and heard patients telling the admitting clerk they were there because their back had been hurting... all kinds of minor issues.

I've seen it, heard about it from people who work with it, and seen it in the papers. I'm relatively comfortable it happens.

I hear what you're saying. I agree with you that people use the emergency room when they're poor. When I was homeless I used it too. What I'm trying to get at is people don't get long term treatment at the ER. When people have access to a doctor on a regular basis they generally can catch things before they get bad. The "check-up" does help. Maybe that is all going to change with the new health care everyone usually insults...I don't know.

I won't argue with you that some people use the ER needlessly but there are just as many others, or more that abuse insurance with cosmetic fixes that generally cost even greater amounts. Are people that abuse the ER the norm? What part of the population does that because I've known people with insurance that abuse the ER. Any study would have to discern between the two it seems. Also, lot's of people use the ER to get pain meds because the hospital doesn't know the patient was at the ER across town and got the same prescription for pain killers. The ER is a quick fix, not long term care.

The woman that gave birth being able to stay for a week...I don't know if I even believe that. I'd have to see it. How many cases are there of the homeless suing anyone?

I'm sorry for the rant and I'm not going to post any longer here. But, before I do here is what many feel in our society and it's the saddest thing. It's the real agenda:

Indiana Republican: 'No One Has the Guts' to Let the Poor 'Wither and Die'

I apologize for diverting. "Exit stage right..."