We all know the time has come that in
order to afford the high standards of care to which we have become
accustomed,something has to give or change. It is a hard fact of
life and a big step, but it will be taken whether we like it or not.
Rationing health care for seniors sometimes
makes sense as long as the priorities are right. Who among us has
the least to loose ? It would require a new mind set. A change in
how we believe things should be in our health care delivery system.
In health care, the goal has always been the pursuit of excellence.
However, attaining and maintaining this goal, is now cost
prohibitive. Abuses in the Medicare system are wide spread and seems
to be self perpetuating. Everyone including seniors should educate themselves and
observe how personal physicians, and other health care providers must follow guidelines according to insurance providers, especially
how they bill to Medicare. Just as quickly as we complain for the
charges we incur personally, so should we if we see inaccurate charges
passed on to Medicare. If we don't then we are reinforcing abuses in
the system.
There are movements in new
directions.“ Savings Beyond Price “ blog. Robert T. Yoki-
President and chief value Strategist—Strategic Value Analysis {R}
In Health care. The early stages for changing health care are as
visible as they are necessary .
Yoki quotes Aristotle in saying ”
Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.” He states
that training is the path to improvement ,reducing resistance to
change and changing behaviors. The goal being “unfreezing”
existing thinking and to replace it with new ideas, along with new
learned behaviors and practices. Ideally they are then “frozen”
to create a whole new way of doing things.
To change health care Yoki advocates
taking one small step in the right direction. So where do we begin.
Wiser minds than I , are hopefully attempting to redesign our
health care delivery system. In our life time I imagine these
changes will not come easily. But they have come non the less.
Perhaps rationing health care for
seniors is the beginning of the beginning, but certainly not the end
of a long unpaved road. It will not be a pleasure trip, maybe more
like a survival course. Hopefully ,the next generation will benefit
from a refined health care delivery system.
In the USA,we would be wise to use
our advances in health care with a greater respect. To consider
carefully about those that would benefit most and how we are to pay
for the delivery and the expertise needed. Limits in the pursuit of
a prolonged life beyond what is reasonable and after it is of no
value to the patient, is not considered morally right by those of us
that have such a compass. Yet , we continue to struggle with
its ambiguity and against tides.
There are religious implications
against the removal of a feeding tube, on a poor lifeless and
mindless soul . Considered wrong by some, as it is said, there is
considerate merit to man's suffering.
We need a change . We need appropriate
health care that does not hold over its head the threats of
disproportionate liability for those in its practice . Something that
has often lead to “ defensive medicine” a practice that has
always meant increasing the cost of the delivery of health care.
By the provision of broad stroke
education to the public on self care as it relates to basic health
maintenance, and chronic disease management, has been known to
maintain optimum health for those who practice it. Improved health of
the general population ,is a possibility who's time has come.
Will the change be to socialized
medicine ? Many other countries that have this in place are unhappy
with it and others continue to come to the shores of our United
States for our high standards of care. As it is, health care is
designed for the young and the well. Others who are our citizens ,
must walk away as it is not within their reach in the new plans.
We have been both blessed and cursed by
our success in the delivery of our health care. We still are one of
the best. Hopefully, in our attempt to make it affordable ,we don't
have to “throw out the baby with the bath water.”
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