LETTERS: Online doctors often better than office visit
To the editor:
Dr. Alan W. Feld’s letter (“Online doctors,” Oct. 13 Review-Journal) criticized Jennifer Robison’s article as “deceptive and misleading” (“Doctors on call, online” Oct. 5 Review-Journal). While I’m sure that Dr. Feld has some valid points, the truth is that online doctors are better than no doctor at all, and in many cases, they provide better care than most people receive in a brick-and-mortar doctor’s office.
I have been seeing the same doctor for 15 years, and every time I visit his office, it’s like the first time he has ever met me. My doctor doesn’t remember my name, my medical condition and has never, in 15 years, asked about my lifestyle, diet or any of the other factors that impact my health. I wait for at least an hour past my appointment time, only to be treated as a stranger.
Since Obamacare arrived, things are even worse. I can no longer see the doctor who can’t remember my name, I’m now forced to see a physician’s assistant who cares even less about why I’ve just wasted three hours of my life for a five-minute consultation.
Maybe online doctors aren’t the answer. But until the government gets out of the health care business and lets doctors do their jobs, instead of spending all their time filling out forms and worrying about regulations and compensation, online doctors might be the only hope for a lot of people.
If every doctor reached an accurate diagnosis after a “careful and focused” examination, online doctors would be out of business tomorrow. Somehow, I don’t see that happening anytime soon.
BILL EDWARDS
LAS VEGAS
Casinos losing audience
To the editor:
We’ve seen much made about how to appeal to the millennial generation here in Las Vegas. More bars and restaurants, and the search for slot machines that will want to make them actually play (something they don’t seem to be doing now). Unfortunately, this catering is being done at the expense of the core 35- to 65-year-old gambler who feels increasingly alienated.
Gambling is the easiest, cleanest income a property can make, and the 35-to-65 group still likes to gamble. However, with decreasing odds, tighter slots and millennials tending to be more out of control on the Strip than ever, older gamblers wonder why they should visit the Strip and are going there less. Add in the inescapable pounding DJ music that even those in their late 30s complain about, and we’re no longer rolling out the welcome mat for our best visitors.
Yes, we’re going to set a record this year for visitor numbers. However, with the average visitor age dropping, we’re now depending on a more fickle “here today, off to something else in a couple of years” group of visitors that might not be around for the decades-long loyalty that more seasoned visitors give our fair city.
George Maloof had a long, successful run at the Palms, appealing to both the nightlife/celebrity crowd and the gambler looking for comfortable gaming that was a good value. It can be done. Maybe some of our current gaming leaders should give him a ring and find out what the magic was, before we lose our core gambling audience and all we’re left to depend on is fickle millennials.
TED NEWKIRK
LAS VEGAS
