Full quote:

 

Babies born in eastern Kentucky, along the Mississippi Delta and on Native American reservations in the Dakotas have the lowest life expectancies in the country. If current health trends continue, they aren’t expected to live much beyond an average of 70 years. Meanwhile, a baby born along the wealthy coast of California can be expected to live as long as 85 years, the authors found.

 

 

As U.S. Life Expectancies Climb, People In A Few Places Are Dying Younger

This is sad, but not surprising. While most of the country is arguing over how to improve accessibility to healthcare, these parts of the country are still working on availability of healthcare which in my opinion is an even greater challenge. The fact is that the overwhelming majority of doctors coming out of residency want to practice around their hometown or in an environment similar to their hometown. That's just human nature. Because of that, the only solution to this is to produce more physicians from rural areas and then make sure they are offered enough compensation to go back home. I know all three medical schools in Kentucky have programs designed for this very purpose but their effectiveness is limited for a variety of reasons. The hurtle is finding those willing and able to go in to healthcare from rural areas, because after you find them the solution is one of the government's favorites and this time it would actually work. You just throw money at the problem.

I was born and spent my first 10 years in the Delta. Got 34 years to go :lol2:

One thing I've noticed about eastern Kentucky is the poor health choices of many residents. I don't have statistics but I would venture to think that the region probably leads the nation in the percentage of population that are smokers.I recently spoke to a doctor who was at our golf course for a visit and he said he had a patient that was complaining because he had to pay a couple of dollars for his prescription beyond what his government medical card covered but later in their conversation he commented that two packs of cigarettes cost him $11. To add to the story, the fellow was a heart patient that had surgery a year before.

I was talking to a doctor a few years ago and he said that the rate of malpractice cases being brought was so high in EKY, that most Doctors steer clear of there because of the high cost Malpractice Insurance.

I was talking to a doctor a few years ago and he said that the rate of malpractice cases being brought was so high in EKY, that most Doctors steer clear of there because of the high cost Malpractice Insurance.

 

Is this doctor scared of Bigfoot and the Boogeyman, too?

Is this doctor scared of Bigfoot and the Boogeyman, too?

 

Not that I know of He was just saying why so many doctors had left eastern Kentucky. The way I took it is that there was an epidemic of malpractice suits being brought and it was making it hard to get doctors to go to some areas.

This is sad, but not surprising. While most of the country is arguing over how to improve accessibility to healthcare, these parts of the country are still working on availability of healthcare which in my opinion is an even greater challenge. The fact is that the overwhelming majority of doctors coming out of residency want to practice around their hometown or in an environment similar to their hometown. That's just human nature. Because of that, the only solution to this is to produce more physicians from rural areas and then make sure they are offered enough compensation to go back home. I know all three medical schools in Kentucky have programs designed for this very purpose but their effectiveness is limited for a variety of reasons. The hurtle is finding those willing and able to go in to healthcare from rural areas, because after you find them the solution is one of the government's favorites and this time it would actually work. You just throw money at the problem.

 

I have to agree with The Professor. From what I read, it sounds like bad lifestyle choices.

Sedentary lifestyle has to be a major factor. Just spent yesterday with 2 physicians in the family who both practice in eastern Ky. Both are having contract issues with both Kings Daughters and Highlands regional. Ignorant demands and that have forced many out of the region. Both are considering relocating when their current contracts are up. Can't blame them.

Preventable health issues, hmmmm...this country will eventually recognize the pattern.