Changes in Healthcare

Looking at the state of Healthcare over the last few years we can come to some obvious conclusions. (Written Pre-Covid19)

From the Doctor's point of view, he/she is having to see more and more patients each day to make up what they were earning several years ago. Reimbursements are a problem, insurance is an issue, causing many of them to have lost their independence as solo providers, and sold their practices to become employees at hospitals. Many others have joined forces with other specialties in sharing location and staff. Working longer hours and being told what to do is not what they initially signed up for.

Healthcare as such has morphed into symptom management, where to a large extent the doctor has become a useful messenger for the pharmaceutical industry. Consider the fact that about 70% of non-communicable diseases are preventable, such as cardiovascular problems, hypertension, diabetes 2, and many cancers, yet we are spending about 80% of our healthcare budget in trying to fix those very preventable diseases. Actually, at a recent healthcare symposium, an oncologist described these as "diseases of choice" - we choose to smoke, not eat healthily, not exercise, etc.

We then look at the Pharma Reps and Medical Sales Reps, who over the years have had their territories reduced & quotas raised; competition has grown and they are often let go to find themselves replaced by younger reps who are willing to work for less money. It is common to find Pharma and Medical Sales Reps who have worked for several companies by the time they are middle-aged. They, therefore, have very little if any, job security.

From the point of view of the patient, he/she is generally offered a quick fix with some Pharma solution which may have serious side effects. Unfortunately, doctors have never really studied nutrition and other lifestyle choices which they offer their patients.

The nebulous future of the legislation from the government and the wrangling going on is adding to the confusion for the future. One thing is sure, however - the logical common-sense approach of Preventive Medicine has to play an important part in our healthcare. Education is a must, and this should include what we can and should learn from other countries where the system has better results and leads to less strain on the economy.

A silver lining is a Functional Medicine where physicians are being exposed to complementary forms of medicine which in conjunction with traditional medicine is showing encouraging results.

With the tsunami of technological devices in the ever-growing market of analysis and inexpensive miniaturized solutions, as well as instant readily available information there is real hope that Preventive Medicine will become an integral part of our healthcare system.

Which way forward?

Recently I visited a physician and asked how many patients she saw each day. 

Not enough, was the reply.

How many is that I asked?

29 she said.

I think that is a large number of patients, but she said she needed to see more because "I cannot make out with these numbers"

How sad that it has become a numbers game just to "survive" from the physician's point of view.

Reimbursements, insurance are problematic and electronic records take up a huge amount of time.

Prevention is finally an option to add significant income since it can be monetized and not be dependent on insurance.

Let me know if you would like to know more by setting up a few minutes to chat https://calendly.com/paigemjack

#Prevention #pharmaceuticalreps #medicalreps #doctors #pharmacists