On Sun, 12 Feb 2017 16:20:31 -0000, Janet > wrote:
>In article >,
>says...
>>
>> On Sun, 12 Feb 2017 13:38:52 -0000, Janet > wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >> On Sat, 11 Feb 2017 14:19:01 -0600, Sky >
>> >> wrote:
>> >
>> >> >
>> >> >My parents' recent, quarterly visit (several doctors' appointments) to
>> >> >Mayo Clinic and its environs required me to be their round-trip driver
>> >> >(~460+ miles one-way); neither was able to drive.
>> >
>> > Was that your round trip from home to their place, or their round
>> >trip from their home to the Mayo??
>> >
>> > If the latter, was there no-where closer for an old pair to have
>> >their regular tests done?
>> >
>> >(None of my business so feel free to ignore, just curious about US
>> >health care)
>> >
>> > Janet UK
>> >
>> Mayo clinic is where you go when you want the experts in the field.
>> Where you go if you want to know if there is some new treatment out
>> there. It isn't a just a regular hospital.
>> Janet US
>
> I know its reputation. But I'd be shocked if there's only one such
>hospital in USA (or only one within reach of Sky's parents.)
>
> Janet UK
The US is a big country and there are many big research hospitals but
they are located in the more densely populated areas, in larger
cities, not in the boonies. This is not to say there are no hospitals
in the rural areas, there are plenty but not those on the cutting
edge. For general health issues I'd go to one of the hospitals an
hour away in Albany but for something serious like cancer or a kidney
transplant I'm making the three hour trip into Manhattan to Sloan
Kettering. For typical ER services there are lots of excellent small
coummunity hospitals everywhere... for the typical gash requiring
stitches or for setting a simple fracture they are fine, but for more
serious issues they will recommend going to one of the larger research
hospitals some distance away, in fact they will set up the appointment
at the appropriate facility with the appropriate doctor and if a real
emergency that can't wait they will medivac you by helicopter.