LET US TAKE CHARGE OF REFORMING HEALTHCARE -
PART IV
Acclaimed surgeon William Stewart Halsted was the first to treat breast cancer with a radical mastectomy. His published results of 50 cases at John Hopkins in 1894 became the standard of care
until 1970.
By today’s standards however, his techniques were arguably barbaric.
In a hundred years, will today’s practice of medicine seem similarly primitive? And what does that question have to do with health care reform?
Maybe everything.
To observe a visit to the doctor’s office these days is like watching Lucy and Ethel wrap chocolates
(HERE).
If that isn’t bad enough, your doctor’s evenings are spent on data entry, so the bean-counters can find ways to speed up the conveyor belt.
In this environment, does innovation even exist?
Might this be the third major flaw with health care today? (First identified in Tip 574; Second, in Tip 575.)
Fixing what’s broken in health care has vexed experts for decades. The notion this venue will be any less futile is quite possibly the epitome of conceit.
Oh, well. If health care reform is like a marathon, this ol’ runner’s ‘training’ is soon to end.
January 8th,
that is, when Tips return. Until then,
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
