Fixing our health care system won ’t make us healthy

Like all doctors, I am frustrated when I see my patients missing out on what could be years of good health. And our medical system is so dysfunctional that it’s tempting for doctors and patients to blame poor health outcomes on how we pay for medical care. But, our ridiculous payment system is a symptom, not the cause of our problems, and fixing our medical system is not going to vault us to the top of the healthiest countries list. The quality of a nation’s health care system reflects its values, and as Americans, we value self-reliance, competition, and capitalism. Although often productive, these values have blocked not only the development of an equitable health care delivery system, but also public policies that address inequity more broadly, the real driver of our poor health outcomes. The evidence of failure is all around us. For the second year in a row, U.S. life expectancy has declined after unchecked progress since the 1960s. The U.S. now ranks 30th in the world in life expectancy, between Costa Rica and Cuba. Our infant mortality rates are tragic and vary dramatically based on skin color and zip code. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Policy Public Health & Washington Watch Source Type: blogs