So, having tried to get to grips with the healthcare system (sitting through heated session on healthcare reform) and realising thet my fellow blogger Wes has no idea how things work in the NHS, we kind of though our readers would like a case study to compare the 2 systems.

Firstly a bit of information about my fellow (far more experienced blogger and high speed tweeter..how he has not got RSI, I dont know!)…Wes.

Westby G. Fisher, MD, FACC is a board certified internist, cardiologist, and cardiac electrophysiologist (doctor specializing in heart rhythm disorders) practicing at NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL and is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. He entered the blog-o-sphere in November, 2005!!  He also brands tee-shirts (all for charity, I might add..what a star!) and you HAVE to see his website for this.

His experience of the UK is rather typical (sorry Wes!)….he says, and I quote…

‘ touring quaint countryside villages with ladies who ride to market on their bicycles in flowered dresses (sc- driving around in open top sports cars!?), or strolling the streets of Oxford and the shores of the River Thames, stopping to have a cup of tea with bisucits and clotted cream (sc- I think he means scones and he forgot the jam!) whilst growing my LAD lesion there!’

What about the pubs Wes??

Anyway, back to the case scenario and I must credit Wes with the fictional names. I could not have done better!

For the purposes of the exercise, we’ll take two patients, Mr. Thurgood Powell, a highly successful 57 year-old businessman making $250,000 (£166,128) per year with his company PoshPosh Entertainment, and Mortimer T. Schnerd, a pleasant 43 year old man who is unemployed but working part-time in the local K-mart, earning $17,400 (£11,562) per year. Both men will experience heart attacks, both men will present to Emergency Rooms in both countries, and both men with require 4-day ICD stays and require the implantation of an automatic defibrillator and follow-up for the first year after the heart attack. Beyond that, heck, who knows. But that will at least give us a starting point to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of both health care systems and to compare and contrast the two systems. We will purposely refrain from political commentary in our posts (that’s for you to do in the comments section!). We only ask that the commentary discussion be respectful and civil.

You have 2 blogs to comment on. The UK side  of the story here and the US side of the story on Wes’ blog.

Not sure if it will work but lets give it a go! So check back later today after we have a chance to confer over double expressos before we post our case scenarios. 

Enjoy the last day in Atlanta!

Sarah