Frustrated With Health Care

Just when I think I’ve gotten it all out of my system and I’m ready to start talking about some positive, constructive stuff another article comes across my desk that I feel compelled to discuss.  This is yet another article that adds to my frustration, and yet, supports my moving forward plans.

The newest article was in this past weekend’s Parade; “Don’t Let the Economy Endanger Your Health”.  This hard-hitting story reports some sobering facts about how people are reacting to the economy relative to their health.  In fact, based upon conversations I’ve had with many other doctors these figures come as no surprise. 

Startling results of a survey from the American Heart Association reveal that 57% of those surveyed report that the economy has affected their ability to take care of their health.  The impact is obviously greater amount those with lower incomes, although 33% of those earning $75,000 or more say that they also feel the squeeze.  People are forgoing lifesaving care; 10% have reportedly stopped or reduced their medication for chronic diseases such as high cholesterol and asthma.  13% have elected to not get a flu shot, while 18% have avoided getting needed exams like mammograms. 

However, in reality the state of our economy may not be completely to blame for this; health care has just gotten to be so freakin’ expensive.  In 1970, Americans spent approximately 7% of their budget on health care.  At 17% for 2008, this represents a 2.4 trillion dollar outlay, which exceeded our spending on housing or food.  The truth is that the U.S. leads the world in advanced specialty care; as such, we spend more money on health care than any other nation in the world, and what do we have to show for it?  In spite of our huge price tag, the World Health Organization reports that the U.S. is ranked 31st in over all health as compared to all other industrialized nations; a very sad commentary!

So, what does the author, George Anders, recommend us to do?  He suggests that prevention must be our priority and that we should find creative efforts to encourage wellness; sound familiar?  To me, this sounds like it is right out of a chiropractor’s mouth, after all, isn’t this what chiropractic is?  All we need to do is demonstrate that our care is wellness orientated and that we are a great health care option; that’s all it should take, right?  Well, actually, I believe that because of the economy another part of this puzzle is to demonstrate affordability and possibly re-think our fees in these tight economic times.

Like most chiropractors my desire has always been to help as many people as possible.  In fact, in my career there have been times where it was not uncommon for me to see upwards of 90-100 patients a day in my practice.  Today, I’m lucky if I see 30-40 a day; clearly a significant drop.  So what happen?  Did these patient’s condition get better?  Do they all-of-a-sudden no longer require my services?  Obviously not!  The solution?  We just have to find newer more modern ways to communicate with our patients to bring them back in.  Lightening bolts in the Yellow Pages doesn’t work.

Today while listening to a popular talk show host I was inspired to discuss their comments on my blog, but I wasn’t sure which blog would be most appropriate, this one or my other one, www.HurryUpAndSlowDown.com, which is devoted to the Chiropractic Lifestyle.  I decided to post it on both.

While listening to him speak today his comments were much like those of a chiropractor.  He was saying that our government’s plan to cut costs by pushing preventative health care are misguided efforts that will not save money.  He went on to say that real preventative care is getting regular exercise and watching what you eat.  The government’s thrust and the focus of the medical profession is not prevention care, but rather it is based upon early detection and intervention.  Their goal is to get people into their system of taking drugs as early as possible.  On the contrary, their cost-saving efforts will significantly increase cost simply because of all the expensive tests and early intervention drugs they will dispense.  I wanted so much to call the station just to give him a big thumbs up.  Unfortunately, I did not have the time to hang on the phone; so I did the next best thing, I sent him an email.  Here is what I sent him.

Holy cow!  When I tuned in today you were talking about how preventative care, as the government sees it, is all wrong; that it is NOT about prevention, but rather early detection and treatment.  This is called “sick care”, NOT health care, and this model of care will never save money!  As you so eloquently put it, preventative care is about exercise, and a good diet, which definitely cuts cost.  This is the exact message I have been preaching for the past 20 years.  In fact, when you combine it with a periodic tune-up of your spine and nervous system with a chiropractic adjustment, this is what we call a chiropractic lifestyle.  And, now that the government has gotten themselves involved they are further spending excess money by supporting medicine and big pharmas message that all you need are drugs, a whole bunch of expensive tests, and perhaps a little surgery.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  This is NOT health care and people ARE better off staying as far away from them as possible.  By doing this they will not be required to poison their bodies with expensive drugs, AND they will save lots and lots of money.

Here’s some sick stats: 

            80-90% of all disease is related to lifestyle stress.

            Years ago when the doctors went on strike in Canada, the death rate went down!

            The medical profession kills nearly 100,000 people each year; that’s like 500 fully loaded jumbo jets crashing every year!

A great prescription for preventative care: 

• Take responsibility for your health
• Watch your diet, and most people knows what that means; see item 1.
• Get moving. Exercise is NOT a 4-letter word!
• Get appropriate rest.
• Stop your stinkin’ thinkin’. A negative attitude will kill you and all those you touch
• Get your spine and nervous system checked by a chiropractor.

Think about it; taking responsibility for your health = fewer symptoms = fewer visits to the MD = fewer expensive medical tests = less need to take expensive drugs = a more efficient, cost-effective, productive member of society.

 THIS is the chiropractic lifestyle; THIS is true Health Care!