Oh, but you can order your own blood tests. I've done it before. Google "order own blood tests." I've used Health One before to run a test that I wanted done. I had insurance, but I didn't want to go through the awkwardness of convincing my doctor that it was worth doing, and I think it was only $40.
The ability to shop around is great and all, but hardly something I could reasonably expect of somebody currently suffering from kidney stones, or worse (if you can even imagine a worse state).
I think that has a lot to do with upbringing and culture.
We here at HN know a lot about computers and programming -- even some of us for whom it isn't even our profession. We learned a lot of this stuff because it was a hobby.
Several of my real-life friends are this way when it comes to a lot of medical stuff -- despite not being in the medical profession they still know all sorts of odd things you'd expect just doctors to know just because they have been so extensively reading up on their own.
So, I guess what I'm saying is, remember the post a few months back preaching that we should 'all' learn programming? I say we should all learn more about our bodies. If and when we do, that very education will probably affect what we consume, how often we exercise, etc., ultimately improving our lives either way.
Exactly right. Shopping around is entirely impractical many, if not most, emergencies (and that is assuming that you are actually conscious in the first place.)
If you have the premonition to research it ahead of time and keep updated on it, then good for you. I suspect that the people who do that are the real minority, not HN type people.
Once you are actually in a jam... trust me, you are not going to be spending your time googling for shit when you are in a bad way with kidney stones. Lobbed off a limb with your table saw? By all means, go check the internet first ...but not with kidney stones...
Thanks very much for dropping that name. I had looked once before but somehow missed Health One.
I was specifically looking for testosterone and thyroid previously (before starting a new training plan) and they seemed to be off limits with the providers I had located. Awesome to see those listed and a participating lab within 10 miles of my home.
I choose to fix my own car when it has small issues, I choose to fix my own computer when things go haywire (whether it's a hardware or software problem), I choose to install/fix issues relating to the washing machine & dryer, furniture, faucets, etc. etc.
To get to the point where I could fix these things I had to learn various things from others, from reading up, and so on.
I can do that quite easily when it comes to my own body too. Only in the most extraordinary of circumstances will I seek medical healthcare.
To relate this to HN: make systems that facilitate acquisition of knowledge, conducting tests, studying those tests, etc. Maybe hook the other end of the system to a database of vetted doctors in India and China who could study the test results and suggest future options?
By golly does this industry need some disruption. Please make it happen guys.
Unfortunately you still can't fill out your own prescriptions diagnosing your own problem, so you'll still end up paying for a doctor's visit if something is wrong.
