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Doctors Heal Themselves

By Joe Renna

If health care is so wonderful in other countries, why does the world flock to America for treatment? It's because our health care system is so much more advanced. It's safer, more accessible and empowers the public.

Americans have the freedom of choices foreigners could only dream of. Critics who think there is a quick fix for the difficulties the profession encounters are short-sighted as to the complexity of the issues.

Developments happen on a daily basis. Keeping on top of the science and economics is one thing. Stir politics and law in the mix and you have yourself one big mess. Amazingly though, we are managing the best we can, and it's not all that bad. In fact, the problems inherent in the system are symptoms caused by its own advancement.

The medical field of the past consisted of two types of doctors - family practitioners and surgeons. There was less knowledge and less technology - hence less service. Now there are literally specialists and sub-specialists for every body part. Alternative care has also undergone great progress and is becoming more recognized as a viable means of treatment and prevention. What once was considered radical is more acceptable and justifiably so.

Better air, water and sanitation eliminated many of the acute diseases that killed people fifty years ago. New medicine successfully treats infectious diseases once considered fatal. As a result people are living longer and are now being treated for chronic and disabling diseases not even diagnosed in the past.

It doesn't matter how much service the health care profession has to offer the demand will always be higher. That challenge comes from within. The same ingenuity responsible for these scientific achievements will eventually heal their troubles.
The public can actually look toward itself for solutions. We are spoiled. We seek specialists and run to advanced care centers for trivial afflictions. Especially when the tab is paid by a source other than the patient's own pocket. So much is expected at any cost and if something falls short of a miracle - BOOM -lawsuit.

There's no denying that health care is expensive, but no one is denied health care either. Seeking low cost service will result in low rate service. I would much rather a physician make decisions based on medical issues rather than cost issues. You get what you pay for.

If you follow the money line to the waste and corruption in the ranks and eliminate that, then we can actually achieve the reform we seek. Seldom do we find medical personnel at the end of that path devising some elaborate scheme to bilk money. True professionals are busy with research, development and administering care.