In one of it's segments on the health care debate currently going on in Washington now, NPR featured a piece that got to the very root of our sky rocketing costs, the "Fee for Services" system.
An unintended consequence of Medicare, this system is built around the concept that physician/providers get paid for what they do for the patient. While that concept sounds good on the face of it, our current mess is caused in large part because of it.
By only paying providers for the provision of specifically coded procedures, tests, assays and such, this system shifts the entire incentives and rewards of every such provider from one of providing the best possible patient care, to one of coding and billing for as many tests, assays, procedures and consultations with outside specialists as possible, for every single patient, every visit.
It has given us the corporate medical and insurance behemoths we enjoy today.
A thoughtful, contemplative physician, who takes their time to thoroughly exam their patient, their medical history, listen to their complaints, plan and coordinate actual care, is corporate medicine's worst nightmare.
Not coding for procedures, ordering test, scans and consultations simply dose NOT pay the bills.
Don't you get it? The healthier we stay, the less money they make.
So how in heaven's name can we expect that all those really smart medical group and hospital administrators are to pay their bills, without working this system to it's maximum potential. Their job is the coding, billing and collecting for every conceivably justifiable test, assay, consult, procedure and scan that the system will allow for each and every patient seen. They are there to maximize their organization's revenues and they will be replaced if it is even suspected that they aren't doing just that.
To not understand this fundamental flaw in the incentive structure of our health care system is to simply not understand one of the roots that has created such a mess now.
To not fix this perverse system is to pander to those very moneyed special interests who have the most to loose. We've simply got to stop putting the incentives where they are and put them on healthier outcomes.
Currently, there simply is no reward to actually provide quality care. All of the current incentives lies in the exact opposite.
Fewer visits, procedures and healthier patients simply aren't in the best interest of corporate medicine, more and more of the same is.
Failure to change this perverse system of rewards will doom any health care reforms to failure.
You simply cannot keep the incentives the way they are and expect things to change for the better. Continuing to believe so is simply delusional.
R. D. Taylor At Large.
To link to the story this is written about, and to read my post on NPR's site, simply click the link.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
What to do with Dick's Duck in less than thirty minutes?
Having trouble deciding what to do with that left over duck that Dick Cheney dropped off before checking in to see about those heart pains?
Or, need to feed four to six quick with just a half eaten duck, a few capers a lemon and some linguine?
You know, the legs and thighs are gone, but there is still way too much meat left on that carcass for the stock pot so, what's the frugal, time pressed, omnivore to do?
Well here is Chef Boy'r'u Kidding's very own recipe for peppered duck over linguine.
Total prep and cooking time, depending on your deboning and chopping skills, 25 to 45 minutes.
Total tools: You'll need are a Wok, pasta pot, colander, turning spatula for the Wok and pasta claw for the pasta.
Ingredients:
A cup or more deboned roast duck, chopped.
Any leftover duck fat you can scrape off anything.
1/3 cup olive oil
1 bulb fresh garlic, peeled and finely chopped. Not minced, but nicely done and if you are too timid for an entire bulb of garlic in a recipe, leave now as you'll clearly have no pallet for the Chef's recipes.
1/4 cup coarsely ground, or cracked pepper corns. I told you this wasn't for the faint of heart.
Zest from one large lemon. Not giant, but nicely formed and well zested if you please.
2 rounded tablespoons of capers and 2 tablespoons of the pickling juice they come in.
Ground or grated Parmesan to taste.
1 pound box of your favorite linguine.
Preparation:
Fill your pasta pot 2/3 to 3/4 full of water, salt to taste and bring to a rolling boil, before adding your linguine.
In your Wok, put your olive oil, and chopped garlic and pepper, put the heat on high and just when the garlic begins to sizzle, but before it starts to brown, add all of your chopped duck, stirring constantly with your spatula. Add the lemon zest, capers and caper juice and stir until the linguine is done. Remove from heat.
Drain your linguine when cooked to your taste, then return to the pasta pot and add the contents of your Wok, toss and serve in pasta bowls. Garnish with the grated Parmesan to taste, serve with a salad, wine and bread of your choice.
Clean up is pot, wok, colander, claw and spatula.
Serves 4-6 depending on appetites.
Get well quick Dick. I'm looking forward to some nice canvas backs soon, but er, ah I won't be able to join you in the blind this year. I'll be, doin some soul food that weekend for Barack and Michel, you know how it is.
Bon Appetite
Chef Boy'r'u Kidding.....
Or, need to feed four to six quick with just a half eaten duck, a few capers a lemon and some linguine?
You know, the legs and thighs are gone, but there is still way too much meat left on that carcass for the stock pot so, what's the frugal, time pressed, omnivore to do?
Well here is Chef Boy'r'u Kidding's very own recipe for peppered duck over linguine.
Total prep and cooking time, depending on your deboning and chopping skills, 25 to 45 minutes.
Total tools: You'll need are a Wok, pasta pot, colander, turning spatula for the Wok and pasta claw for the pasta.
Ingredients:
A cup or more deboned roast duck, chopped.
Any leftover duck fat you can scrape off anything.
1/3 cup olive oil
1 bulb fresh garlic, peeled and finely chopped. Not minced, but nicely done and if you are too timid for an entire bulb of garlic in a recipe, leave now as you'll clearly have no pallet for the Chef's recipes.
1/4 cup coarsely ground, or cracked pepper corns. I told you this wasn't for the faint of heart.
Zest from one large lemon. Not giant, but nicely formed and well zested if you please.
2 rounded tablespoons of capers and 2 tablespoons of the pickling juice they come in.
Ground or grated Parmesan to taste.
1 pound box of your favorite linguine.
Preparation:
Fill your pasta pot 2/3 to 3/4 full of water, salt to taste and bring to a rolling boil, before adding your linguine.
In your Wok, put your olive oil, and chopped garlic and pepper, put the heat on high and just when the garlic begins to sizzle, but before it starts to brown, add all of your chopped duck, stirring constantly with your spatula. Add the lemon zest, capers and caper juice and stir until the linguine is done. Remove from heat.
Drain your linguine when cooked to your taste, then return to the pasta pot and add the contents of your Wok, toss and serve in pasta bowls. Garnish with the grated Parmesan to taste, serve with a salad, wine and bread of your choice.
Clean up is pot, wok, colander, claw and spatula.
Serves 4-6 depending on appetites.
Get well quick Dick. I'm looking forward to some nice canvas backs soon, but er, ah I won't be able to join you in the blind this year. I'll be, doin some soul food that weekend for Barack and Michel, you know how it is.
Bon Appetite
Chef Boy'r'u Kidding.....
It's Showtime for Goldman's Gucci Gulch Garrison!
It's showtime for Goldman's Gucci gulch garrison as the spotlights in our national three ring circus under the domes shift from the Honorable Mr. Toyoda's so sorries to Goldman Sachs explaining to all just how wonderful it is to deal in derivatives and credit default swaps!
Apparently having moved much of Greece's debt off the books and out of sight of the entire EU over ten years ago, they've been called to the hill to explain just why selling credit default swaps on this very same Greece's financial future to anyone and pocketing whatever premiums the market bear is a good thing for our economic stability. See NPR story
Given that these credit default swaps are a form of insurance against certain events of company, or in this case the government of Greece, that pay the holder the face amount under certain conditions, such as defaulting on their debts, or even just having credit rating fall to a certain point, isn't it a sweet deal that Goldman's dealt?
Cool huh? They help to hide the true debts of Greece for years through their derivative deals, then sell the hell out of default swaps for whatever they can get, to whom ever has the money, regardless of any insurable interest.
Now, that's a whole lot like helping someone to pile oily rags to the ceiling in the hidden places under the stairs and out of site of the inspectors, then selling fire insurance policies to anyone with the premium for whatever stated amount they wanted to buy, on when it all goes up in smoke.
Three questions come immediately to mind:
First, what kind of reserves have been set aside to pay the claims on these default swaps?
Second, who's going to pay the claims?
Three, who stands to gain by Greece's troubles?
You gotta know those congressional halls are ringing with the sound of those tap dancing Gucci s!
Step right up and watch those amazing lobbying dollars hard work at work ladies and gentleman. Watch while we see the just how much of our Government Goldman's money can buy?
Yes sir, step right up, Hurry! Hurry! The show's about to begin.
Popcorn, peanuts anyone?
R. D. Taylor, At Large....
Apparently having moved much of Greece's debt off the books and out of sight of the entire EU over ten years ago, they've been called to the hill to explain just why selling credit default swaps on this very same Greece's financial future to anyone and pocketing whatever premiums the market bear is a good thing for our economic stability. See NPR story
Given that these credit default swaps are a form of insurance against certain events of company, or in this case the government of Greece, that pay the holder the face amount under certain conditions, such as defaulting on their debts, or even just having credit rating fall to a certain point, isn't it a sweet deal that Goldman's dealt?
Cool huh? They help to hide the true debts of Greece for years through their derivative deals, then sell the hell out of default swaps for whatever they can get, to whom ever has the money, regardless of any insurable interest.
Now, that's a whole lot like helping someone to pile oily rags to the ceiling in the hidden places under the stairs and out of site of the inspectors, then selling fire insurance policies to anyone with the premium for whatever stated amount they wanted to buy, on when it all goes up in smoke.
Three questions come immediately to mind:
First, what kind of reserves have been set aside to pay the claims on these default swaps?
Second, who's going to pay the claims?
Three, who stands to gain by Greece's troubles?
You gotta know those congressional halls are ringing with the sound of those tap dancing Gucci s!
Step right up and watch those amazing lobbying dollars hard work at work ladies and gentleman. Watch while we see the just how much of our Government Goldman's money can buy?
Yes sir, step right up, Hurry! Hurry! The show's about to begin.
Popcorn, peanuts anyone?
R. D. Taylor, At Large....
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Should the Veteran's Administration be dispensing Hearing Aids?
With the V.A.s current budget request topping $125 Billion for 2011 and expected rise, our tax allocations to this one branch of the federal government now tops the total for the entire budgets for the states of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, combined.
Even as the costs of caring for our current generation of veterans continues to sky rocket, as more and more of our young men and women return home with the horrendous wounds of our nation's current conflicts, the Veteran's Administration and it's network of hospitals and clinics dispensed almost half a million hearing aids last year.
Many of these were fit to older veterans who are functionally deaf, or at the least, severely impaired, without their instruments. Yet, every veteran I've met, who's ever been so fit acknowledges waits of from two weeks, to three months for an appointment to receive any kind of service.
This begs the question, should this branch of our government be allowed to dispense almost half a million hearing aids a year to veterans all over the country, without providing for the adequate follow-up care and regular maintenance such equipment requires and these veterans deserve?
According to the recent Marke Trak surveys, as published in "Hearing Review", the Veteran's Administration was responsible for dispensing 14.9 % of all hearing aids dispensed in this country in 2008, and 14.5% of all fittings in 2009. up from just 1.8% of total instruments fit in 1989. Talk about expansion of Government!
That is over 800,000 instruments in the last two years alone, who's every wearer, regardless of what equipment was fit, can expect a wait of two weeks, to three months for any kind of service from the V.A. (Excepting their provision of a prepaid mailer to their service facility in Colorado for repair and return of the instrument.)
That these veterans need and deserve our care is beyond question.
What is in question, is the desirability of having the Veteran's Administration tasked with this mission, when they are very clearly over tasked with other priorities and have a demonstrated, ongoing inability to provide these veterans with the timely, quality follow-up service and care that such dispensing requires and these veterans deserve?
Or, would our nation's veterans, our economy and the nation as a whole be better served, if all qualified veterans were simply issued a benefits card that would allow them to shop for these services from any licensed professional, within whatever open and free markets we have left?
Even as the costs of caring for our current generation of veterans continues to sky rocket, as more and more of our young men and women return home with the horrendous wounds of our nation's current conflicts, the Veteran's Administration and it's network of hospitals and clinics dispensed almost half a million hearing aids last year.
Many of these were fit to older veterans who are functionally deaf, or at the least, severely impaired, without their instruments. Yet, every veteran I've met, who's ever been so fit acknowledges waits of from two weeks, to three months for an appointment to receive any kind of service.
This begs the question, should this branch of our government be allowed to dispense almost half a million hearing aids a year to veterans all over the country, without providing for the adequate follow-up care and regular maintenance such equipment requires and these veterans deserve?
According to the recent Marke Trak surveys, as published in "Hearing Review", the Veteran's Administration was responsible for dispensing 14.9 % of all hearing aids dispensed in this country in 2008, and 14.5% of all fittings in 2009. up from just 1.8% of total instruments fit in 1989. Talk about expansion of Government!
That is over 800,000 instruments in the last two years alone, who's every wearer, regardless of what equipment was fit, can expect a wait of two weeks, to three months for any kind of service from the V.A. (Excepting their provision of a prepaid mailer to their service facility in Colorado for repair and return of the instrument.)
That these veterans need and deserve our care is beyond question.
What is in question, is the desirability of having the Veteran's Administration tasked with this mission, when they are very clearly over tasked with other priorities and have a demonstrated, ongoing inability to provide these veterans with the timely, quality follow-up service and care that such dispensing requires and these veterans deserve?
Or, would our nation's veterans, our economy and the nation as a whole be better served, if all qualified veterans were simply issued a benefits card that would allow them to shop for these services from any licensed professional, within whatever open and free markets we have left?
Saturday, February 13, 2010
What's in an Obligation
Many years ago I took an obligation. Just like countless other men, over a span of centuries, most of whom are now totally forgotten I obligated myself to a fraternal organization.
I joined with a sense of seeking a connection with my roots and an understanding of my ancestors, as my grandfather, his father and grandfather had belonged I wanted to understand why. Yet, while not discouraging me from joining, my own father, whom I greatly admired was not a member, nor would he even discuss his reasons for not belonging. And, while some members have achieved great historical significance, the vast majority passes to the obscurity of history with little recognition.
I was further influenced to join by the fact that while there were great and famous men amongst it’s roster, there were also lot’s of local examples of its membership and all of whom I’d come in contact with were honest, honorable men, many of whom enjoyed positions of leadership within my small hometown.
Part of this obligation I took deals with coming to the aid of its worthy members, their widows and orphans, in times of need. Something we don’t tend to think about a lot now days, with the huge state safety nets having been spread so widely in an effort to make sure that our society’s less fortunate and truly needy are cared for. Yet, holes still exist providing opportunity to serve.
Now, if ever I could think of a “worthy” widow, it would be sister Alberta. She and her late husband Tom were among the first friends I met when I moved to this community over twenty years ago. Alberta epitomizes the hard work ethic our nation was built on. At eight-five, she only stopped working after a fall left her with a broken back and the inability to stand for any length of time. Yet, even now a couple of years later still she finds time to volunteer her services at the local hospital one day a week.
But, despite a lifetime of hard work and the best of planning Alberta finds herself now living on very limited income. She had become a patient of mine years before and the hearing aids she was trying to get by with when she came to see me recently were far beyond their useful life, and even if I was able to restore them to their original specifications, those were no longer appropriate for her needs. Now, she found herself struggling to pay even for what would be an ineffectual repair of her old gear, leaving her severely impaired, with all that implies.
One of the benefits of dealing with great companies is that they will, given the opportunity, generally rise to the occasion and help when you have someone who is going to fall through the cracks otherwise. GN ReSound is just such a company. When my inside representative heard Alberta’s story, not only did ReSound provide me with the equipment I needed to fill Alberta’s needs, they did so with a pair of their Flagship product line, allowing me to fit this “Worthy widow” with amongst the very best of what our industry has to offer.
When in earlier this week for her first check up, she had her old friend Pat, who was over visiting from England, with her and the differences were remarkable. Excepting some difficulty using her phone, she reported hearing great everywhere else. This was a huge improvement over what she had been struggling to get by with.
Knowing that she and Tom used to be seen regularly at our local Shrine on Fridays for happy hour and that she no longer drove at night, I asked if she and Pat would like to be our guests for a toddy, or two for the upcoming Friday? The light in her eyes answered before she could.
We picked Pat and her up at their apartment at the appointed hour last night and proceeded to have the best time I’ve had there in years. We all laughed so hard at times that our sides hurt. Not only was Alberta able to hear in a very complex sound environment, in short order, she’d caught the eye of Wes, an old widower friend and soon they had moved from our position at the bar, to a table across the room. There, amongst the live music and hubbub of a noisy happy hour, they caught up on old times.
When it was time to call it an evening and we saw them back to the front door of their complex, I knew from the continuing thanks and gratitude in Alberta’s eyes, that I had never been so well blessed and served as I had been by simply living up to that obligation I’d taken so many years before.
I joined with a sense of seeking a connection with my roots and an understanding of my ancestors, as my grandfather, his father and grandfather had belonged I wanted to understand why. Yet, while not discouraging me from joining, my own father, whom I greatly admired was not a member, nor would he even discuss his reasons for not belonging. And, while some members have achieved great historical significance, the vast majority passes to the obscurity of history with little recognition.
I was further influenced to join by the fact that while there were great and famous men amongst it’s roster, there were also lot’s of local examples of its membership and all of whom I’d come in contact with were honest, honorable men, many of whom enjoyed positions of leadership within my small hometown.
Part of this obligation I took deals with coming to the aid of its worthy members, their widows and orphans, in times of need. Something we don’t tend to think about a lot now days, with the huge state safety nets having been spread so widely in an effort to make sure that our society’s less fortunate and truly needy are cared for. Yet, holes still exist providing opportunity to serve.
Now, if ever I could think of a “worthy” widow, it would be sister Alberta. She and her late husband Tom were among the first friends I met when I moved to this community over twenty years ago. Alberta epitomizes the hard work ethic our nation was built on. At eight-five, she only stopped working after a fall left her with a broken back and the inability to stand for any length of time. Yet, even now a couple of years later still she finds time to volunteer her services at the local hospital one day a week.
But, despite a lifetime of hard work and the best of planning Alberta finds herself now living on very limited income. She had become a patient of mine years before and the hearing aids she was trying to get by with when she came to see me recently were far beyond their useful life, and even if I was able to restore them to their original specifications, those were no longer appropriate for her needs. Now, she found herself struggling to pay even for what would be an ineffectual repair of her old gear, leaving her severely impaired, with all that implies.
One of the benefits of dealing with great companies is that they will, given the opportunity, generally rise to the occasion and help when you have someone who is going to fall through the cracks otherwise. GN ReSound is just such a company. When my inside representative heard Alberta’s story, not only did ReSound provide me with the equipment I needed to fill Alberta’s needs, they did so with a pair of their Flagship product line, allowing me to fit this “Worthy widow” with amongst the very best of what our industry has to offer.
When in earlier this week for her first check up, she had her old friend Pat, who was over visiting from England, with her and the differences were remarkable. Excepting some difficulty using her phone, she reported hearing great everywhere else. This was a huge improvement over what she had been struggling to get by with.
Knowing that she and Tom used to be seen regularly at our local Shrine on Fridays for happy hour and that she no longer drove at night, I asked if she and Pat would like to be our guests for a toddy, or two for the upcoming Friday? The light in her eyes answered before she could.
We picked Pat and her up at their apartment at the appointed hour last night and proceeded to have the best time I’ve had there in years. We all laughed so hard at times that our sides hurt. Not only was Alberta able to hear in a very complex sound environment, in short order, she’d caught the eye of Wes, an old widower friend and soon they had moved from our position at the bar, to a table across the room. There, amongst the live music and hubbub of a noisy happy hour, they caught up on old times.
When it was time to call it an evening and we saw them back to the front door of their complex, I knew from the continuing thanks and gratitude in Alberta’s eyes, that I had never been so well blessed and served as I had been by simply living up to that obligation I’d taken so many years before.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
How to get the Best Government Money Can Buy
Wall Street's apparent interpretation of the Supreme Court's recent ruling regarding free speech and political contributions, seems to signal the opening of bids for the now, open purchase of our government.
Rather than the great gnashing of teeth and rending of cloth we are being treated to by our elected now, about how terrible this is for our country, let's look for that silver lining.
How about we unite behind a real time, tracking and web based reporting system, accessible from any web browser, for anyone who wants to know, for all contributions made to any political candidate, political party, or non-profit in the country?
Any person, real or corporate could then give without limit to whatever candidate, party, or non-profit in full recognition of our first amendment rights, while allowing anyone who cared to know, or report, to "follow the money".
Can you imagine the power of the light that such a nationwide system would have to shine on just who is owned by whom, and who's behind what legislation?
With real time reporting and tallying of who's buying who and for how much, we'd at least be able to better assess the value, power and worth of our individual votes and voices.
_________________________________________
As posted on NPR's news blog as comment to our President's apparent retreat from his populist vow to "Get our Money Back" from Wall Street.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/02/obama_flips_on_wall_st_pay_as.html
Rather than the great gnashing of teeth and rending of cloth we are being treated to by our elected now, about how terrible this is for our country, let's look for that silver lining.
How about we unite behind a real time, tracking and web based reporting system, accessible from any web browser, for anyone who wants to know, for all contributions made to any political candidate, political party, or non-profit in the country?
Any person, real or corporate could then give without limit to whatever candidate, party, or non-profit in full recognition of our first amendment rights, while allowing anyone who cared to know, or report, to "follow the money".
Can you imagine the power of the light that such a nationwide system would have to shine on just who is owned by whom, and who's behind what legislation?
With real time reporting and tallying of who's buying who and for how much, we'd at least be able to better assess the value, power and worth of our individual votes and voices.
_________________________________________
As posted on NPR's news blog as comment to our President's apparent retreat from his populist vow to "Get our Money Back" from Wall Street.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/02/obama_flips_on_wall_st_pay_as.html
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Marriott Management Ignores Police reccommendations during Crime Wave.
While attending an Audina sponsored continuing education seminar at the Lake Mary Marriott this Friday and Saturday, my vehicle was broken into. Well, normally I might just chalk it up to bad luck, or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But, this burglary was incredibly brazen, committed sometime between 1:30 and 5:30 Friday afternoon, less than a hundred feet from their convention center entrance in their parking lot.
Upon discovery of my loss, I immediately went to their front desk, reported it and asked about the availability of the security tapes for their parking lot. And, though there was a camera directly over their main desk, I was informed that they did not monitor their parking lots, or the exterior at all.
Upon arrival of the Lake Mary P. D., who took the report, I was advised that this was an unaddressed, ongoing issue and that the police were there for the same thing multiple times each week. Discreet interviews with their several of their own staff revealed a local frustration and acknowledgment of a real problem that corporate was failing to address.
Below is the text of the email I left on their corporate server:
-------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Marriott:
My vehicle was burglarized, less than 100 feet from your convention center entrance, Friday in broad daylight, while I was attending a seminar at your Lake Mary Resort.
The responding officer and several members of your own staff indicated that mine was only the latest in an ongoing crime wave involving your parking lot.
Both the local police, their report records and your own staff confirm an unaddressed security issue that is and has been ongoing.
I have two questions for Marriott:
First, what level of victimization of your guests do you deem acceptable before effective security measures are taken?
Second, how long should I have to wait for someone from your corporation to call to make arrangements to pay for replacement of my lost personal property and repair of my vehicle?
Very Truly Yours
R. D. Taylor
Upon discovery of my loss, I immediately went to their front desk, reported it and asked about the availability of the security tapes for their parking lot. And, though there was a camera directly over their main desk, I was informed that they did not monitor their parking lots, or the exterior at all.
Upon arrival of the Lake Mary P. D., who took the report, I was advised that this was an unaddressed, ongoing issue and that the police were there for the same thing multiple times each week. Discreet interviews with their several of their own staff revealed a local frustration and acknowledgment of a real problem that corporate was failing to address.
Below is the text of the email I left on their corporate server:
-------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Marriott:
My vehicle was burglarized, less than 100 feet from your convention center entrance, Friday in broad daylight, while I was attending a seminar at your Lake Mary Resort.
The responding officer and several members of your own staff indicated that mine was only the latest in an ongoing crime wave involving your parking lot.
Both the local police, their report records and your own staff confirm an unaddressed security issue that is and has been ongoing.
I have two questions for Marriott:
First, what level of victimization of your guests do you deem acceptable before effective security measures are taken?
Second, how long should I have to wait for someone from your corporation to call to make arrangements to pay for replacement of my lost personal property and repair of my vehicle?
Very Truly Yours
R. D. Taylor
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Built Ford Tough! Yea right. Compared to What?
I've been a Ford pick up truck fan for a long time. And, there was a time when I would have agreed with their marketing slogan, "Built Ford Tough". But, not any more.
Fact is, the last two I've owned have belied that claim entirely.
I bought my current one, a 2004 F-150, from Palm Bay Ford reluctantly, in the summer of 2008, after their service department blew up my 2001, after replacing a faulty control module. Without checking, they had turned the engine over on a flooded cylinder, breaking a piston rod, that they knew of and they weren't sure about the crank shaft, or exactly what else.
I had bought the 2001, from the same dealer in 03, had serviced it regularly and best of all it was paid for. Then I was faced with a blown engine, caused by the dealership's service department. Their offer was their idea of a great deal on the 2004, which was even the same desert tan color of my 2001. After a thorough inspection of both the truck and service records and after weighing my somewhat limited options, I very reluctantly signed on to five years of payments again.
With three and a half years, or $11, 000 to go, I've babied this truck, never driven it off road, serviced it regularly and at 53,000 miles I just invested another grand in new Michelins all around, after mounting, balancing and alignment.
Now, the selling points that were highlighted by the dealer when selling me the 2004 was the low mileage and fact that it had been "rustproofed". And, there is in fact a brown goo that oozes out of my door handles and creeps down the doors, if not cleaned regularly with a solvent soaked rag. Their service department pointed to such creep as evidence of it's effectiveness, as it would "creep into" all the crevices and fill all those hidden creases and crannies and do it's job, prevent rust.
My pride of ownership, as I admired my truck new tires and all, took a huge hit yesterday though. While closing the rear driver's side door, after the click of the latch came the clunk of something hitting the running board. I looked down, expecting to find something had rolled out of the back just as I had closed the door. Instead, I was looking at a two inch by two inch chunk of my back door, paint intact, rusted out all around, sitting there on the running board.
So tell me Ford, just how much less is this "rustproofed" "Built Ford Tough" 2004 F-150 with 53,000 miles and your "Bumper to Bumper" warranty worth now?
Just how upside down am I?
Why should I ever, even consider another Ford purchase when my "Built Ford Tough" fully "Rustproofed" six year old truck is leaving chunks of itself along the way?
How about it?
Very Truly Yours,
R. D. Taylor
Below is the response from Ford, and my return correspondence.
Dear Marites:
Thank you for your prompt response.
I did not expect Ford to replace my vehicle. But, I do expect that with reasonable care, my vehicle should last beyond the last payment to Ford without rusting out and falling apart around me.
Am I to infer from your email below that by returning my vehicle to the dealership, it will be repaired in such a way as to retain the value I should be able to expect from an otherwise not compromised model of the same year and mileage? And, that these repairs will be made at no charge to me?
And, I hope you might understand my reluctance to return to the same highly trained and qualified dealership, which'd blown the engine on the last truck I took in for repair.
Oh while we're on the subject of Ford's quality, I was treated to yet another example of Ford toughness while attending a continuing education seminar in Lake Mary this weekend. It seems there is a well known, (at least in law enforcement and hotel security communities.) defect in my Ford, allowing for total disabling of the alarm and near instant entry, simply by jamming my driver's door lock in.
According to the responding officer and Marriott security officer, this has become such a well known exploit, that we (proud Ford truck owners) are now singled out for burglary due to the ease and quickness that a thief can be in and out of our vehicles. (Case #20100362083 as filed with the Lake Mary P.D. 2/2/2010)
Please advise why, as an owner, Ford had not brought this to my attention and offered a repair that would prevent this total subversion of the vehicle's security system near instantly?
And, given that this is an obvious inherent vice in this vehicles' security design, will Ford repair my, now un-lockable, but "Built Ford Tough" truck at no charge, or is this further evidence that I may have made the wrong purchase decision?
Very Truly Yours,
R. D. Taylor
-----Original Message-----
From: crcfmc@ford.com [mailto:crcfmc@ford.com]
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 11:51 AM
To: r.d.taylor4539@earthlink.net
Subject: Ford Motor Company
Dear R. D. Taylor,
Ford will not replace your vehicle due to age and mileage. If you have paint and rust concerns that are not resolved, we suggest you contact your local Ford and Lincoln-Mercury Dealership to repair the vehicle. They have factory trained and certified technicians, comprehensive service information and specialized equipment to resolve your concerns.
If additional assistance is required, we recommend you discuss the concerns with the Service Manager. They will further assist in facilitating your service needs.
We understand that this may cause inconvenience on your part; however, this step is essential for us to ensure that your concerns are addressed appropriately.
Sometimes e-mail communication does not allow us to gain additional information that may be helpful in responding to your inquiry. Should you feel that we have not adequately addressed your questions, please feel free to contact us via telephone at (800)392-3673 between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm, local time, Monday through Friday. Hearing-impaired callers with access to a TDD may contact 1-800-232-5952. Please provide your 10 digit reference number - 0416660360.
Sincerely,
Marites
Customer Relationship Center
Ford Motor Company
For online support visit us at: www.customersaskford.com which contains answers to frequently asked questions and links to other key product and service information.
Ford Confidentiality:
--------------------
For security reasons, please do not submit any sensitive personally identifiable information, such as credit card numbers, driver license number, SSN, DOB, etc. Thank you.
[THREAD ID:1-51YF2L]
-----Original Message-----
From: r.d.taylor4539@earthlink.net
Sent: 2/5/2010 03:54:08 AM
To:
Subject: RE: Ford Motor Company
Dear Ford:
I am the registered owner. I live at 2067 Acacia Street N.E., Palm Bay, Florida. Odometer, 53,000, as stated earlier, I included the vehicles'
vin:# below (1FTRX12W14NA09261) which will give you the exact information regarding style, etc.
The relief I seek is a truck that doesn't leave chunks of itself while going down the road. A truck with value past the time the last payment is made, not one that rusts out and falls apart around me, before it's paid off. Not only is my door rusting out, there is a blister forming on the left front of the hood and I can only guess where else.
The vehicle was into Palm Bay Ford for routine oil change service less than three months ago and the rust on the hood was pointed out then, and basically ignored. The problem with chunks falling out of the rear driver's side door had not been detected at that point.
My daytime phone: # 321-722-2894 or, 321-432-1814
Very truly yours,
R. D. Taylor
-----Original Message-----
From: crcfmc@ford.com [mailto:crcfmc@ford.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 4:54 PM
To: r.d.taylor4539@earthlink.net
Subject: Ford Motor Company
Dear R. D. Taylor,
Thank you for contacting the Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center regarding the rust concern on your 2004 Ford F-150.
We are sorry to hear you feel this way. We hope you would re-think your decision about purchasing Ford products and services. In addition, we would like to have your vehicle concern properly documented. Please provide the following information in order for us to proceed.
Registered owner of the vehicle information
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Cellular Phone Number:
Daytime Phone Number:
Home Phone Number:
Vehicle Year:
Vehicle Make:
Vehicle Model:
Odometer Reading:
Servicing Dealership:
Has the vehicle been diagnosed by a Ford/Lincoln-Mercury Dealership for the current issue?:
Brief description of the type of assistance you are seeking:
If you would prefer to provide this information over the phone, you may call us toll free at 1-800-392-3673 between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm, local time, Monday through Friday. Hearing impaired callers with access to a TDD may contact us by calling 1-800-232-5952.
Sincerely,
Marites
Customer Relationship Center
Ford Motor Company
For online support visit us at: www.customersaskford.com which contains answers to frequently asked questions and links to other key product and service information.
Ford Confidentiality:
--------------------
For security reasons, please do not submit any sensitive personally identifiable information, such as credit card numbers, driver license number, SSN, DOB, etc. Thank you.
[THREAD ID:1-51YF2L]
-----Original Message-----
From: r.d.taylor4539@earthlink.net
Sent: 2/4/2010 05:51:45 AM
To: crcfmc@ford.com
Subject: General/Corporate
Ford Motor CompanyMain Topic: GeneralCorporateEmail Questions: Why should I ever consider a Ford purchase again, when my "Rust-proofed" 2004 is leaving rusted out chunks of my back door on the running board every other time I close it?
http://rdtayloratlarge.blogspot.com/2010/02/built-ford-tough-yea-right-compa
red-to.html
Oh, and as the blog says, I bought this one from the same dealer who's service department blew up the engine on my 2001 while "repairing" it.
Vin# 1FTRX12W14NA09261
Fact is, the last two I've owned have belied that claim entirely.
I bought my current one, a 2004 F-150, from Palm Bay Ford reluctantly, in the summer of 2008, after their service department blew up my 2001, after replacing a faulty control module. Without checking, they had turned the engine over on a flooded cylinder, breaking a piston rod, that they knew of and they weren't sure about the crank shaft, or exactly what else.
I had bought the 2001, from the same dealer in 03, had serviced it regularly and best of all it was paid for. Then I was faced with a blown engine, caused by the dealership's service department. Their offer was their idea of a great deal on the 2004, which was even the same desert tan color of my 2001. After a thorough inspection of both the truck and service records and after weighing my somewhat limited options, I very reluctantly signed on to five years of payments again.
With three and a half years, or $11, 000 to go, I've babied this truck, never driven it off road, serviced it regularly and at 53,000 miles I just invested another grand in new Michelins all around, after mounting, balancing and alignment.
Now, the selling points that were highlighted by the dealer when selling me the 2004 was the low mileage and fact that it had been "rustproofed". And, there is in fact a brown goo that oozes out of my door handles and creeps down the doors, if not cleaned regularly with a solvent soaked rag. Their service department pointed to such creep as evidence of it's effectiveness, as it would "creep into" all the crevices and fill all those hidden creases and crannies and do it's job, prevent rust.
My pride of ownership, as I admired my truck new tires and all, took a huge hit yesterday though. While closing the rear driver's side door, after the click of the latch came the clunk of something hitting the running board. I looked down, expecting to find something had rolled out of the back just as I had closed the door. Instead, I was looking at a two inch by two inch chunk of my back door, paint intact, rusted out all around, sitting there on the running board.
So tell me Ford, just how much less is this "rustproofed" "Built Ford Tough" 2004 F-150 with 53,000 miles and your "Bumper to Bumper" warranty worth now?
Just how upside down am I?
Why should I ever, even consider another Ford purchase when my "Built Ford Tough" fully "Rustproofed" six year old truck is leaving chunks of itself along the way?
How about it?
Very Truly Yours,
R. D. Taylor
Below is the response from Ford, and my return correspondence.
Dear Marites:
Thank you for your prompt response.
I did not expect Ford to replace my vehicle. But, I do expect that with reasonable care, my vehicle should last beyond the last payment to Ford without rusting out and falling apart around me.
Am I to infer from your email below that by returning my vehicle to the dealership, it will be repaired in such a way as to retain the value I should be able to expect from an otherwise not compromised model of the same year and mileage? And, that these repairs will be made at no charge to me?
And, I hope you might understand my reluctance to return to the same highly trained and qualified dealership, which'd blown the engine on the last truck I took in for repair.
Oh while we're on the subject of Ford's quality, I was treated to yet another example of Ford toughness while attending a continuing education seminar in Lake Mary this weekend. It seems there is a well known, (at least in law enforcement and hotel security communities.) defect in my Ford, allowing for total disabling of the alarm and near instant entry, simply by jamming my driver's door lock in.
According to the responding officer and Marriott security officer, this has become such a well known exploit, that we (proud Ford truck owners) are now singled out for burglary due to the ease and quickness that a thief can be in and out of our vehicles. (Case #20100362083 as filed with the Lake Mary P.D. 2/2/2010)
Please advise why, as an owner, Ford had not brought this to my attention and offered a repair that would prevent this total subversion of the vehicle's security system near instantly?
And, given that this is an obvious inherent vice in this vehicles' security design, will Ford repair my, now un-lockable, but "Built Ford Tough" truck at no charge, or is this further evidence that I may have made the wrong purchase decision?
Very Truly Yours,
R. D. Taylor
-----Original Message-----
From: crcfmc@ford.com [mailto:crcfmc@ford.com]
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 11:51 AM
To: r.d.taylor4539@earthlink.net
Subject: Ford Motor Company
Dear R. D. Taylor,
Ford will not replace your vehicle due to age and mileage. If you have paint and rust concerns that are not resolved, we suggest you contact your local Ford and Lincoln-Mercury Dealership to repair the vehicle. They have factory trained and certified technicians, comprehensive service information and specialized equipment to resolve your concerns.
If additional assistance is required, we recommend you discuss the concerns with the Service Manager. They will further assist in facilitating your service needs.
We understand that this may cause inconvenience on your part; however, this step is essential for us to ensure that your concerns are addressed appropriately.
Sometimes e-mail communication does not allow us to gain additional information that may be helpful in responding to your inquiry. Should you feel that we have not adequately addressed your questions, please feel free to contact us via telephone at (800)392-3673 between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm, local time, Monday through Friday. Hearing-impaired callers with access to a TDD may contact 1-800-232-5952. Please provide your 10 digit reference number - 0416660360.
Sincerely,
Marites
Customer Relationship Center
Ford Motor Company
For online support visit us at: www.customersaskford.com which contains answers to frequently asked questions and links to other key product and service information.
Ford Confidentiality:
--------------------
For security reasons, please do not submit any sensitive personally identifiable information, such as credit card numbers, driver license number, SSN, DOB, etc. Thank you.
[THREAD ID:1-51YF2L]
-----Original Message-----
From: r.d.taylor4539@earthlink.net
Sent: 2/5/2010 03:54:08 AM
To:
Subject: RE: Ford Motor Company
Dear Ford:
I am the registered owner. I live at 2067 Acacia Street N.E., Palm Bay, Florida. Odometer, 53,000, as stated earlier, I included the vehicles'
vin:# below (1FTRX12W14NA09261) which will give you the exact information regarding style, etc.
The relief I seek is a truck that doesn't leave chunks of itself while going down the road. A truck with value past the time the last payment is made, not one that rusts out and falls apart around me, before it's paid off. Not only is my door rusting out, there is a blister forming on the left front of the hood and I can only guess where else.
The vehicle was into Palm Bay Ford for routine oil change service less than three months ago and the rust on the hood was pointed out then, and basically ignored. The problem with chunks falling out of the rear driver's side door had not been detected at that point.
My daytime phone: # 321-722-2894 or, 321-432-1814
Very truly yours,
R. D. Taylor
-----Original Message-----
From: crcfmc@ford.com [mailto:crcfmc@ford.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 4:54 PM
To: r.d.taylor4539@earthlink.net
Subject: Ford Motor Company
Dear R. D. Taylor,
Thank you for contacting the Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center regarding the rust concern on your 2004 Ford F-150.
We are sorry to hear you feel this way. We hope you would re-think your decision about purchasing Ford products and services. In addition, we would like to have your vehicle concern properly documented. Please provide the following information in order for us to proceed.
Registered owner of the vehicle information
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Cellular Phone Number:
Daytime Phone Number:
Home Phone Number:
Vehicle Year:
Vehicle Make:
Vehicle Model:
Odometer Reading:
Servicing Dealership:
Has the vehicle been diagnosed by a Ford/Lincoln-Mercury Dealership for the current issue?:
Brief description of the type of assistance you are seeking:
If you would prefer to provide this information over the phone, you may call us toll free at 1-800-392-3673 between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm, local time, Monday through Friday. Hearing impaired callers with access to a TDD may contact us by calling 1-800-232-5952.
Sincerely,
Marites
Customer Relationship Center
Ford Motor Company
For online support visit us at: www.customersaskford.com which contains answers to frequently asked questions and links to other key product and service information.
Ford Confidentiality:
--------------------
For security reasons, please do not submit any sensitive personally identifiable information, such as credit card numbers, driver license number, SSN, DOB, etc. Thank you.
[THREAD ID:1-51YF2L]
-----Original Message-----
From: r.d.taylor4539@earthlink.net
Sent: 2/4/2010 05:51:45 AM
To: crcfmc@ford.com
Subject: General/Corporate
Ford Motor CompanyMain Topic: GeneralCorporateEmail Questions: Why should I ever consider a Ford purchase again, when my "Rust-proofed" 2004 is leaving rusted out chunks of my back door on the running board every other time I close it?
http://rdtayloratlarge.blogspot.com/2010/02/built-ford-tough-yea-right-compa
red-to.html
Oh, and as the blog says, I bought this one from the same dealer who's service department blew up the engine on my 2001 while "repairing" it.
Vin# 1FTRX12W14NA09261
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