Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Join me every Saturday at 10:30 for UrologyRadio

Starting August 22 at 10:30.  This is urologist Dr Richard Schoor. I'll be discussing the most important topics that concern men and their sexual partners.  Join me.  UrologyRadio on 103.9.  

Wednesday, August 05, 2015

Stop complaining to me about your copays and deductibles!

 Patient: "Are they [the radiologist] going to charge me for the x-ray?"

Me: "Probably.  Why would they not?"

Patient: "It is ridiculous.  I pay thousands of dollars a year in premiums and I get sick once and I'm going bankrupt.  It is bullshit."

Me: "I agree.  These high deductible plans are terrible."

Patient:  "It is because we are paying for all these smokers and sick people."

Me: "No, it is because we are paying for the high level executives to fly personal jet between their mansions and yachts."

"Patient: "Huh?"

Me: "Don't worry about it.  You can take comfort in the fact that your hard earned dollar, when spent on your health care, is funding an executives super-high end lifestyle.  You should feel good about that."  [sarcasm seething from my lips]

No folks, the doctors are not the problem.  Nor are the immigrants.  Nor are the sick people.  Nor are the poor people.  The problem is that we all pay, via super high premiums, for a very few, well connected people, to live unbelievable lifestyles and to make so much money that they can, in turn, purchase are politicians.

Answer: Medicare for all.  Demand it.  Now. From your government.  And stop complaining to me.

Join the movement:  PNHP

Tuesday, August 04, 2015

A Simple Question, A Complex Answer

A colleague of mine contacted me with the following question:

 "Can you tell me real quick how to do a semen analysis?"

OK.  Where do I even start?

Semen analysis is a complex diagnostic lab test.  As such, it is a highly regulated endeavor.  To do even a basic semen analysis requires a license from both federal and state agencies.  Your lab must submit to both routine inspections and random inspections and must comply with regulations regarding quality testing, quality control (QC), and quality assurance (QA).  Accuracy testing must also be performed a constant basis. The results of all QC and QA must be maintained for 7-10 years. The lab must have detailed operating  and policy and procedure manuals.  These are very complex items to develop.  The lab must have safety manuals that meet OSHA standards.  Other regulations include data security and backup, disaster planning, staff training and CME.

Oh yeah, and then there is how do the test itself, the semen analysis.  But that description is for a different blog.