Doctors = When did they start making the appointments instead of you making the appointment?

I've been bringing my mother to the doctor for years. I can't help thinking that I remember when people used to go to the doctor when they were sick. Now = we go to the doctor for regular appointments = just to hear that we are okay. She just left her doctor's office and she comes home to a message on her machine = clinic wants to schedule her for more preventative tests = more tests that she doesn't need.

What happened? Why are we going to doctors all the time?

I remember when I was young = you only went to the doctor when you felt unwell. The doctor would check you out and find out what was wrong with you. This was before HMOs.

Now we have all of this preventative care. We have multiple tests. Doctors are sending you all over creation = to have all kinds of tests done to you = so that they can tell you that you are okay.

In the past, your doctor performed the tests in his office. One stop shopping. You left his office knowing exactly what was wrong. No follow-ups needed. You left his office with the prescriptions you needed and that was it. End of story. You filled your prescriptions and went home to get better.

Now everything is a big ordeal. You have to spend more money = going back and forth to the doctor = copays add up = before you know it, you've spent all your grocery money on the blasted doctor visits.

Can we ever go back? Are we stuck with this current crap?

I know why HMOs came into being. I worked for an HMO company. They were meant to be a way of controlling the cost of medical care. Plus = everyone wanted to streamline medical care = make lots of rules = have everyone on the same page. Look at all the mess that this caused. Another good intention that has blown up in our face!

Oh well, no point getting worked up about it. It will only make your blood pressure rise.

Take care,

LK