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0 pointsiancmceachern1y ago0 comments

Healthcare is huge. It's amazing how terrible access to good care is in many rural areas. It's something people often overlook but it's just so important.

0 comments

whiterknight1y ago

All the doctors want to live in LA and NY. This problem only gets worse as medical school, etc becomes more competitive and costly.

KennyBlanken1y ago

The problem is a mix of people leaving rural areas which increases per patient overhead at facilities, plus mergers and private equity takeovers.

Hospital chains and healthcare systems have been consolidating like crazy for decades and it's still going strong - 80 or so hospitals merge every year. PE has also been snapping up private practices like crazy, too.

https://www.kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/ten-things-to-k...

ghaff1y ago

Though the consolidation is something of a mixed bag. My community hospital network had some pretty good docs but lab work, appointments, and so forth was pretty much faxes and phone calls which sometimes worked. Now they're on Mass General Brigham's electronic records system and it's a lot better.

browningstreet1y ago

Have you seen the medical offices in Scottsdale?

ghaff1y ago

It's not quite that bad. For example, the Boston area is arguably as good or better than those two cities. And some higher-income relatively small town/rural areas are pretty decent. But it definitely becomes a bigger consideration as you get older--although you can of course get unlucky at any time.

whiterknight1y ago

(desirable coastal cities with young people and vibrant entertainment)

ghaff1y ago

It's a lot more than that but, as you get away from at least medium-sized cities, things get scantier especially if you need specialized care.

2 more replies

jen729w1y ago

Here in Australia people retire ‘down the coast’. For us that’s the stunning south of NSW. Look up Eden (yes, really, Eden).

And then … they come back to the city. Because the older you are the more medical care you need, and there just aren’t enough doctors down there, or in any other regional area.

killingtime741y ago

My parents are going to retire on the Gold coast for this reason. Quieter life but several big hospitals and Brisbane nearby

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

whiterknight1y ago

All the doctors want to live in LA and NY. This problem only gets worse as medical school, etc becomes more competitive and costly.

KennyBlanken1y ago

The problem is a mix of people leaving rural areas which increases per patient overhead at facilities, plus mergers and private equity takeovers.

https://www.kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/ten-things-to-k...

ghaff1y ago

browningstreet1y ago

Have you seen the medical offices in Scottsdale?

ghaff1y ago

whiterknight1y ago

(desirable coastal cities with young people and vibrant entertainment)

ghaff1y ago

It's a lot more than that but, as you get away from at least medium-sized cities, things get scantier especially if you need specialized care.

2 more replies

jen729w1y ago

Here in Australia people retire ‘down the coast’. For us that’s the stunning south of NSW. Look up Eden (yes, really, Eden).

And then … they come back to the city. Because the older you are the more medical care you need, and there just aren’t enough doctors down there, or in any other regional area.

killingtime741y ago

My parents are going to retire on the Gold coast for this reason. Quieter life but several big hospitals and Brisbane nearby

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse