dubinamerica
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My understanding is that they are often used as a follow up to get a more detailed view if an X-Ray was inconclusive or insufficient. I doubt that anybody but conspiracy theorists would conclude that the medical profession is referring people for them in order to use up capacity or justify the cost of a scanner.onekeano said:Almost as an aside MRIs scans seem to be very routine these days for almost every kind of ailment presented - are they really required or is it a case of referring people to use capacity?
ClubMan said:I doubt that anybody but conspiracy theorists would conclude that the medical profession is referring people for them in order to use up capacity or justify the cost of a scanner.
The clinics don't control who goes for an MRI - it's the GP or a consultant who makes the referral.onekeano said:Except maybe their bank managers who look at the business case before providing the funding for the equipment for the private clinics?
Perhaps they would but the insurers don't run the GP's practice and I certainly trust my own GP to act professionally and pragmatically rather than overreacting to all medical issues - large or small - that arise. If anybody does not have a similar bond of trust with their own GP then they really should consider seeking a new one.Also I would have thought that a doctors insurers would be more satisfied if the doctor covered EVERY possible option regardless of cost to make sure nobody could claim against them.
I went from GP to consultant who, after examination, asked if I had VHI or BUPA. When that was established, I was sent for an Ultrasound Scan, CT Scan, MRI and a scope.ClubMan said:My understanding is that they are often used as a follow up to get a more detailed view if an X-Ray was inconclusive or insufficient. I doubt that anybody but conspiracy theorists would conclude that the medical profession is referring people for them in order to use up capacity or justify the cost of a scanner.
ClubMan said:The clinics don't control who goes for an MRI - it's the GP or a consultant who makes the referral.
I for one would have 110% trust in my GP - myself and my family have a relationship going back over 20+ years with him. The OP made the reference to MRI scans and my point was that when the GP refers you to a consultant very very very often now the consultant will almost automatically propose a battery of tests / examinations using equipment that is lots of cases they actually own themselves. The extent of the "relationship" between the patient and the consultant is probably 5-15 minutes and €100-200, quite unlike that with the GP.ClubMan said:If anybody does not have a similar bond of trust with their own GP then they really should consider seeking a new one.
While I share some of your concerns about tax subsidisation of private medical clinics, I'm not too worried about abuse of test procedures. I expect (though I've no inside knowledge) that VHI and BUPA have reasonable control procedures around paying for such expensive tests. If some consultants are much more trigger happy than others in ordering tests, I'd hope that the insurers would take action.onekeano said:Maybe I wrong Clubman but in lots of cases don't the consultants actually own the clinics for example Jimmy Sheehan and co who own the Blackrock CLinic and the new one in Galway? Surely there's a conflict of interest there. Barringtons in Limerick is another I believe.
I for one would have 110% trust in my GP - myself and my family have a relationship going back over 20+ years with him. The OP made the reference to MRI scans and my point was that when the GP refers you to a consultant very very very often now the consultant will almost automatically propose a battery of tests / examinations using equipment that is lots of cases they actually own themselves. The extent of the "relationship" between the patient and the consultant is probably 5-15 minutes and €100-200, quite unlike that with the GP.
I would suggest Delgirl's experience is typical, what most people don't realise is that they are being sent for tests on equipment owned by the consultant and sometimes in facilities purchased with significnant tax breaks at a further cost to the PAYE taxpayer.
Roy
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