There is a reality I realized after many years of working as a doctor directly in the American health system: Many Vietnamese people are not afraid of getting sick, but afraid of… going to the doctor.
It’s not because people don’t care about their own or their family’s health.
But because when entering the American health system, many people feel like they are lost in a maze with no exit:
- Don’t know when to go to the family clinic, when to go to the ER or urgent care.
- I don’t know why I bought insurance but then still received a bill for money.
- I don’t understand why the doctor didn’t prescribe any medicine after examining me.
- I don’t understand why the most modern hospital in the world still has to wait so long to see a doctor.
- And most importantly… I don’t know who to ask for answers.
Below are the 6 most common misunderstandings I often see. These psychological barriers have caused many Vietnamese people to delay health care, always worry or feel extremely helpless every time they go to see a doctor.
1. You don’t have to do a lot of tests every time you go to the doctor
Many Vietnamese people have the habit of thinking: “If you go to the trouble of going to the doctor, you have to do a blood test, ultrasound, X-ray or MRI from head to toe to be sure.”
But in American medical thinking, a test is only indicated when it has a clear clinical reason and is truly necessary.
An easy comparison image: Testing is like using a flashlight in a dark room. If you know clearly which corner you need to find the object, a flashlight will be extremely useful. But if you shine the light everywhere, you may see blurry shadows that make you more frightened, even though it’s actually completely harmless.
Medical tests work the same way. Doing the right thing at the right time can save a life. But overuse of testing at the wrong time only causes more psychological anxiety, costs money, easily leads to false positive results, and unintentionally leads to a series of unnecessary invasive intervention procedures afterward.
Therefore, if the doctor does not immediately prescribe you a series of tests, it does not mean at all that he is indifferent or does not care about you. They are actually considering very carefully: Will this test really change the treatment regimen for patients?
2. Just because doctors don’t prescribe strong medications doesn’t mean they don’t care
Many patients go to the doctor because of symptoms of cough, sore throat, cold, and then become extremely disappointed when the doctor only advises them to go home to rest, drink lots of water, and use regular cough suppressants or fever reducers. Doubt immediately arose in their minds: “With just such instructions, why waste money on going to the doctor?”
However, the cause of most common colds, coughs, and sore throats is caused by viruses. And a basic medical principle: Antibiotics have absolutely no effect on killing viruses.
Using antibiotics when your body has a viral infection is like trying to use a big hammer to fix a light bulb. Not only will it not solve the problem properly, but it can also damage other things. Antibiotics can cause a series of side effects, allergic reactions, acute diarrhea, and more dangerously, contribute to the creation of drug-resistant (highly virulent) bacterial strains.
A good doctor is not the one who writes long prescriptions or the strongest drugs. A good doctor is one who knows exactly when strong therapeutic intervention is needed, and when the body just needs time, close monitoring and appropriate supportive care measures.
3. Modern American Medicine does not mean that every procedure will be quick
This is something that shocks many people when they first experience medical treatment in the US. Extremely modern facilities. State-of-the-art machinery. Abundant medicine. Doctors are well and rigorously trained.
However, you may still have to wait several weeks (or even months) for an appointment with a specialist. You may still have to wait in the ER for many hours. You still have to patiently wait for the insurance company to approve the prescription, approve the MRI scan or approve the procedure before performing it, rather than just walking into the hospital and having it done immediately.
The nature of the system: The US healthcare system is like a large highway with many lanes. Ambulances will always have priority. Patients in critical condition will be treated immediately. In cases where the vital index is stable and not in danger of life, you must wait in line.
That’s why, at the ER, not everyone who walks in first will be examined by a doctor first. The operating principle is: Whoever is more dangerous will be given priority for treatment first. This absolutely does not mean that your condition is not important, it just shows that the system is prioritizing according to the level of life threat (Triage system).
4. The nature of American health insurance: Not a free ticket
This is an extremely common misunderstanding and is also the cause of the most frustration and anger.
In the US, health insurance in the US is essentially a financial cost sharing contract between you and the insurance company, not a completely free card.
Even if you own a good health insurance package, when go for a medical examination in the US:
- You may still have to pay out of pocket for the Deductible (deductible at the beginning of the year).
- You may still be required to pay a Copay cash payment each time you enter the clinic.
- You may still have to share a Coinsurance percentage of the total bill.
- You can still be charged a much higher fee if you accidentally go out-of-network with your insurance company.
Therefore, when living in America, learning how to read and understand health insurance contracts is as important to survival as understanding your own illness.
You should take the time to carefully check the list of doctors/hospitals in the network (in-network), along with the deductible, copay, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum numbers for yourself and your family so that you will never be in a confused position when receiving the bill later.
5. Correct route allocation: Pain does not mean going straight to the ER
The emergency room (ER) is a place designed only for truly life-threatening medical emergencies: severe chest pain, acute shortness of breath, signs of stroke, heavy bleeding that cannot be stopped, drowsiness, seizures, severe allergic shock, anaphylactic shock, serious physical injury, or severe abdominal pain. If you have these signs, don’t hesitate, call 911 or go to the ER immediately.
However, just because you feel pain or discomfort in your body doesn’t mean you have to rush to the ER “just to be sure”.
Conditions such as: mild cold, common sore throat, back pain for a few days but still able to walk, mild skin rash, need to refill prescriptions… will be much more suitable and economical if you make an appointment to see your family doctor (PCP) or go to Urgent Care centers.
Going to the ER for the wrong purpose is like calling a large fire engine just to have a technician come and change a light bulb in your house. It’s not that your problem isn’t important, it’s that you’re using the wrong place and the wrong tools to solve it. As a result, you both spend a huge amount of unnecessary money and have to spend many hours waiting tirelessly.
6. Language barrier is not a barrier that makes a medical appointment useless
Many Vietnamese aunts and uncles often have low self-esteem and think:
- “My English is not good, I probably won’t understand what the doctor says when I go to the doctor.”
- “Okay, let’s go in there, whatever the doctor says, I’ll just nod and be done.”
- “Let the little children go with me to help translate quickly.”
- “I’m so shy, I don’t dare bother asking for an interpreter.”
But in a medical environment, vague understanding is extremely dangerous for life.
In the United States, under federal law, hospitals and medical facilities that receive public funding are legally obligated to provide free and appropriate language assistance (interpreter) services to patients who are not proficient in English.
- Never let your children be the ones spreading disease to their parents.
- Never nod your head until you don’t really understand the regimen.
- Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor to slow down or explain again.
As soon as you step into the reception desk or meet the nurse, a simple and powerful phrase you can use right away is: “I need a Vietnamese interpreter, please.” (I need a Vietnamese interpreter, thank you).
Conclusion
The US healthcare system is really imperfect and has many shortcomings. But it’s not as scary or complicated as we think if we take the trouble to learn how to understand and use it intelligently.
Going to the doctor in the US is not just about going to see a doctor. It’s a proactive process: knowing how to go to the right door, knowing how to ask the right questions, understanding the insurance contract, proactively asking for an interpreter when needed, and having your medical history information ready before entering the clinic.
Because understanding the medical system not only helps you save thousands of dollars in unnecessary costs, but it is also a shield that directly protects the health, safety and legitimate rights of yourself and your family.
What do you think about these 6 practical misunderstandings of Vietnamese people when accessing American healthcare? Have you or a loved one ever encountered any of these problems? Please leave a comment below to share your perspective with me.
If you find this article brings practical and useful information to the community, please share it widely with relatives and friends!
Dr. Christina Nguyen
The Phoenix Medical Academy
