Healthcare and society

In this blog, I discuss two things I follow fairly closely: healthcare reform and societal issues in general. I work in the healthcare system as a medical group administrator, then I go home and continue thinking about healthcare. It has always been an interest of mine because, 1) it is essential to the functioning of society, and 2) it is very complex with a lot of moving parts.

The healthcare system will be "reformed" in President Obama's first term. However, the chances are remote that it will be as comprehensive as we need it to be. I'll be happy if we get 30% of what we need, but I won't be completely satisfied unless every cost driver is identified and addressed. Our government and political system is not set up to allow this to happen because politicians have a difficult time pissing off their constituents. Unfortunately, real reform would be less like a Cumbaya campfire scene and more like a long, heated, but constructive debate.

Real reform will also acknowledge that healthcare is merely a subset of society and its problems are no different than the problems faced by society as a whole. Greed, selfishness, indifference and myopic thinking are all over the place and they must be addressed, or all aspects of society will suffer. Some day, a prominent and intelligent person will show us how problems with education, poverty, racism and healthcare are all related in some way.

While Washington struggles with reform, I strongly urge you to take whatever steps you can to lead a healthy life and to encourage those around you to live healthy. In the end, that is the best way you can ensure that poor health does not ruin your life.