Posted by laima on July 20, 2006, at 12:41:09
In reply to charging for tests » laima, posted by pseudoname on July 20, 2006, at 12:29:34
Sure, they pay for the equipment. But can a machine do a better job than an experienced doctor who asks detailed questions? And who liscenses it? Is it more than a patent? I don't know, I'd rather interact with a very good doctor. But whatever works...> > Seems odd that they would want to charge extra for a diagnostic test on a computer...
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> The docs have to pay for the equipment and the licensing, sometimes a per-test royalty. But I've heard of offices charging for administering non-licensed pencil-&-paper checklists!
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> The way this particular computer test arrangement was supposed to work – as explained to me by the salesperson – was that the patient would take the test to establish her baseline ($45). Then she'd get one dose of, say, Ritalin ($15). Then she'd wait around the office for two hours (which was also, somehow, billed). Then she'd take the test again (another $45). If she did better the second time, supposedly that would show that Ritalin is the drug for her! All with almost no time on the part of the pdoc, just nonprofessional staff.
poster:laima
thread:664760
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060717/msgs/668608.html