Director, Emergency Services, Bikur Cholim Hospital
This column is meant to be provocative. It is written from my
perspective — but I am a physician and really want to
hear the other side. Physicians in the USA are rarely
overworked and are paid well. Religious doctors are
interested in working with religious patients — they
understand them. And many, many Americans are well-versed in
medicine and are willing participants in their care.
Recently, I sat with the head physician of one of the
kupot — I will not say which — and he
complained how hard it is to work with chareidim. It seems
that we have a reputation of not valuing quality. Often,
quality is determined by a neighbor or an askan, and
therefore the kuppah does not succeed with quality
physicians since often they are not listened to. Furthermore,
we are very tough on physicians. Complaints abound, while
appreciation is minimal, and therefore doctors do not want to
work with us.
Is there something to this? Definitely there are
communication problems. Physicians often do not talk to their
patients in Israel, and do not appreciate what they want. On
the other side, doctors often feel abused, and that their
advice is considered worthless.
Is this physician correct? Let me hear from you about what
the problems are: what do Israelis really want and where
could we both improve our communication and expectation.
Alopecia is balding not related to regular male balding. This
can be from many reasons. Chemotherapy and radiation exposure
are well known causes, but another cause includes a disease
of the body attacking the hair follicles as invaders, the
same group of diseases such as Crohn's disease and arthritis.
Steroids which blunt this response are often necessary. If
you are balding, even if it is normal balding, you can grow
hair with a drug called minoxidil, but when you stop using
it, hair will fall out. Hair also falls out in anorexics.
West Nile Virus has hit the USA and it is common here. We
have spoken about it. The winter is the time to make sure
that by spring there is no standing water around which breeds
the mosquitoes that spread this disease, which can be a
problem in the elderly and kids. By the way, these folks
should be getting flu shots as well. Write me in care of the
Yated.
A message from GlaxoSmithKline, sponsor of this
column. Tums works for acid reflux and heartburn, but did
you know it is an excellent source of calcium, too? A double
benefit. And available without prescription.
