According to an article published in The New England Journal of Medicine on May 20, 2009, (www.nejm.org;
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/N... several doctors agree that Healthcare Reform can be achieved in America. This is very promising as President Obama prepares to speak to the nation promoting Healthcare Reform this upcoming weekend on Meet The Press (check local listings).
Donald M. Berwick, M.D., M.P.P., Karen Davis, Ph.D., and Elliott S. Fisher, M.D., M.P.H. all agree that America has the best chance to accomplish Healthcare Reform now! They all agree that with the support of large stakeholders such as the American Medical Association, legislation, and medical professionals, reduced spending in healthcare will be a promising development.
However, these doctors also agree that several things must happen in order for Healthcare Reform to be successful! In The New England Journal of Medicine, these doctors outline first and foremost, two major threats to Healthcare Reform. First, having healthcare doctrines that conflict with each certainly poses a substantial risk to a public healthcare system. In addition, the existence of such strong opposition to Healthcare reform will counter the United States walking a path to high-quality and affordable health care for every citizen. The bottom line is that we must unite in order for Healthcare Reform to be successful in America!
The best way to steer the medical profession towards Healthcare Reform is that doctors should participate to create one vision that will eliminate conflicting doctrines that really just divide and delay the process. As a starting point, however, physicians must also recognize that the current complex healthcare system needs action on several fronts:
(1) strong advocacy to lead the United States to welcome a triple-aim approach. This Triple aim is for improved experience of care such as patient-centered quality care in a timely and efficient healthcare delivery process. This will lead to improved health for citizens and it will reduce the total per capita costs. (See, Berwick DM, Nolan TW, Whittington J. The Triple Aim: Care, Health, and Cost. Health Aff (Millwood) 2008; 27:759-769 for the full text).
(2) Designing the healthcare process for the best affect for patients. Currently, the healthcare microsystems are often unsafe, unreliable, and vary in costs. Initiatives for doctors to improve in this area will work to make needed changes and will be more affordable for Americans. It is emphasized that doctors must work together in order for this level to be successful. That takes us to the third level.
(3) Based on the Report: Crossing the Quality Chasm, the Institute of Medicine, America needs the largest of organizations to be held accountable for the complete continuum of a patients’ healthcare. This level should be simultaneous to achieving the Triple Aim, too. The IOM reports that a network of the largest organizations could be integrated with independent doctors and will create a high-performance healthcare system. For example, these organizations and independent doctors would share the same electronic health data of one patient including administrative and clinical support for quality improvement and delivery of health services. (See, Shih A, Davis K., Schoenbaum SC, Gauthier A, Nuzum R, McCarthy D. Organizing the U.S. healthcare delivery system for high performance. New York: Commonwealth fund, August 2008; and Fisher ES, McClellan MB, Bertko J, et al. Fostering Accountable Health Care: Moving Forward in Medicare. Heal Aff (Millwood) 2009;28w219-w231 for the full text);
(4) The final and fourth level should be the environment. This includes regulations, law, payment, and educational systems. Strong advocacy by doctors is also very necessary on this level.
Everyone in America from the poorest to the wealthiest have already acknowledged that the current complex healthcare system has drastically weakened the economy and will only take America further down for generations to come if no action is taken. The only thing left to achieve after these are accomplished is to work out a deal that all stakeholders can agree to and implement the Healthcare Reform. The thrust must be for everyone to arrive at one vision and take his or her focus off of the dividing conflicts because it is very possible to have a Healthcare Reform that includes both a public healthcare system and a competitive private insurer system.
So, the medical profession stands in agreement with President Obama’s Healthcare Reform Stimulus Plan (not the healthcare lobbyists) and I urge you to continue to stay in contact with your Congresspersons in support as well.
See, also National Priorities Partnership, National priorities and goals: Aligning Our Efforts to Transform America’s Healthcare. Washington, DC: National Quality Forum, November 2008.
Visit your Senate at
www.senate.gov Visit your House Representatives at
www.house.gov Join Healthcare For America Now at
www.healthforamericanow.org Agnes B. Levine is the Author of the book, "Cooling Well Water: A Collection of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman" (ISBN 13 978-0-975461206-0-4) Available NOW on Amazon at
www.amazon.com
Posted By: agnes levine
Thursday, May 28th 2009 at 8:09PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
