Jacquie from Canada - Why are U.S. women deprived of help?
Dear America,
I'll limit my letter to you to one tiny topic - the availability of nitrous oxide gas to labouring women in the U.S. You might think this is an odd topic on which to focus...but it's indicative of the insanity of the U.S. health care system.
From up here in Canada, it is shocking to discover that hardly any U.S. women have access to something that we take for granted. It's simple, cost-effective, and makes sense.
So, here's the stats:
In 2004, there were 4,115,590 births in the U.S.
The epidural rate in most U.S. hospitals range between 60 and 90%.
Each epidural, including the anethesiologist, costs between $700 and $1200.
If you calculate the cost, using the lowest rate and cost...that’s $1,728,547,800 spent on epidurals in the U.S.
Why? Because certain people (doctors, insurance companies, hospital administrators - take your pick...) made sure there was no alternative.
In Canada, and many other countries, nitrous oxide gas is available for pain relief in labour. No doctors orders are required for its use. No anesthesiologist is required for its use. There is no waiting period necessary. Its effects start immediately. It is cheap and simple.
With a portable system, a woman can remain mobile, even in the shower, and use the nitrous oxide gas, thus making her labour faster and easier.
In Canada, 70% of my own clients use nitrous oxide gas in labour and require no other pain relief. We save the medical system a lot of money this way. It just makes sense.
Now, tell me...why does the United States only have nitrous oxide available to labouring women in ONLY 2 birthing centres? That's maybe a few hundred, or even a few thousand women, who are given this alternative.
Why do the women in the U.S. get epidurals...or nothing? I think that's easy to answer.
It’s just one tiny example of a health system gone wrong.
Sorry, I can’t admire a country that places greed before logic.
Name: Jacquie
Age: 47
Country: Canada
Gender: Female
Income: Medium
Occupation: Birth Consultant
Experience With US: Visited the United States
3 Comments
Published on Friday, September 28, 2007 at 2:06 PM. I'll limit my letter to you to one tiny topic - the availability of nitrous oxide gas to labouring women in the U.S. You might think this is an odd topic on which to focus...but it's indicative of the insanity of the U.S. health care system.
From up here in Canada, it is shocking to discover that hardly any U.S. women have access to something that we take for granted. It's simple, cost-effective, and makes sense.
So, here's the stats:
In 2004, there were 4,115,590 births in the U.S.
The epidural rate in most U.S. hospitals range between 60 and 90%.
Each epidural, including the anethesiologist, costs between $700 and $1200.
If you calculate the cost, using the lowest rate and cost...that’s $1,728,547,800 spent on epidurals in the U.S.
Why? Because certain people (doctors, insurance companies, hospital administrators - take your pick...) made sure there was no alternative.
In Canada, and many other countries, nitrous oxide gas is available for pain relief in labour. No doctors orders are required for its use. No anesthesiologist is required for its use. There is no waiting period necessary. Its effects start immediately. It is cheap and simple.
With a portable system, a woman can remain mobile, even in the shower, and use the nitrous oxide gas, thus making her labour faster and easier.
In Canada, 70% of my own clients use nitrous oxide gas in labour and require no other pain relief. We save the medical system a lot of money this way. It just makes sense.
Now, tell me...why does the United States only have nitrous oxide available to labouring women in ONLY 2 birthing centres? That's maybe a few hundred, or even a few thousand women, who are given this alternative.
Why do the women in the U.S. get epidurals...or nothing? I think that's easy to answer.
It’s just one tiny example of a health system gone wrong.
Sorry, I can’t admire a country that places greed before logic.
Name: Jacquie
Age: 47
Country: Canada
Gender: Female
Income: Medium
Occupation: Birth Consultant
Experience With US: Visited the United States
Labels: 40's, birth consultant, canada, female, health care, medium income, north america, visited the US
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