The Health Care Industry-The Solution Or The Problem?
But before you condemn me you should know that I am not alone in my dislike and distrust of the American health care system and doctors. Surveys show that a majority of Americans share my negative sentiments about both. And it makes perfect sense that the medical establishment has lost its halo. In fact, it is about time.
Doctor Worshipping Is Dead
For all the criticism the White House gets for the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), people are starting to wonder what were the “healers” doing these many decades to improve medical care access and affordability? Nothing. The media coverage and political fighting about Obamacare, and high deductible health plans put a spotlight on the many shortcomings of the current health care system. More people now see the health care establishment as part of the health care cost problem, not as a neutral third party bullied by government and insurance companies.
The positives of receiving good medical care (as an individual) no longer negate the ills inherent in the entire system. The health care establishment finds itself in a you’re either part of the solution or part of the problem moment. And not surprisingly, the system doesn’t get it. They think they can lobby, whine or bully their way back into the good graces of society. It’s not working.
People Want Doctors To Take Responsibility For National Health Care Issues
The more medical professionals ignore society’s growing insistence to take responsibility for more than the medical care they provide, the harder it will be for the two to make up. The harsher the criticism will become. For example, at the start of the national opioid overdose epidemic, many people blamed opioid addicts for their situation, not doctors. However, based on the lukewarm response from the medical community to address the opioid problem, opinions are starting to change.
Big Pharma may have created these addictive drugs and health insurers may have promoted their use because of their low price, but it is doctors prescribing them. Maybe some are not prescribing as much or have given up on these drugs altogether, but if they are, they’re not educating the public on what they are doing. What we read in the news is doctors pushing back against basic opioid reforms like participating in mandatory training. And when they are not saying “no” to suggestions to change prescribing habits, they are blaming insurers for instituting policies to cut prescription drug costs like step therapy. Or, they are blaming patients for not following their advice or pressuring them to write specific prescriptions (but here they may have a point)… A short story.
Last week I witnessed a conversation between a doctor and a patient about pain medication. Yes, there is no privacy in nursing homes—roommates and their guests can hear everything the doctor says to another patient. The conversation went something like this:
Patient – I want to take my own medication because it works. It gets rid of the pain. The medication you provide does not work for me. I know what works for me.
Doctor – I’m concerned about the dosage you are taking. I think it is a dangerously high amount that will harm your stomach. Would you consider lowering the dosage and getting your drugs from us instead of buying your own?
Patient – I’m not illiterate. Bring me a pamphlet or booklet about the medication saying what dosages are safe or unsafe.
Doctor – (laughs) I don’t have any pamphlets. Will you at least try a slightly lower dosage and take our medication instead of your own?
Patient – I’ll think about it.
Doctor – Ok. Thanks.
Working in the health care industry is becoming increasingly unpleasant. To deal with the distrust and anger, the industry is digging in its heels to maintain high prices, limited oversight and near zero price transparency. Nothing short of completely letting go of the status quo will return the health care industry to its former level of respectability. But it’s not their reputation we should care about.
Denise Perkins
