Conference participants wore ‘I Love Medicare’ pins in Calgary.
Nietzsche might ask
Do you love medicare because patients benefit, or do you love medicare because you benefit?
Do you love ‘free care’ more than patient care?
People can care more about the idea of universal health care than they do about the care patients receive.
They deny data showing
long waits
poor patient outcomes
lack of access
lack of coordination
high cost
inefficiency
lack of control
provider frustration
Their solutions focus on
more control
more funding
more rationing
more cuts to salaries > 100k
more patient education to divert access
They would rather fight for a failed system than fight for improved patient care.
n. An arrogant, stubborn assertion of opinion or belief
dog-ma-tism n.
1. positiveness in assertion of opinion especially when unwarranted or arrogant
2. a viewpoint or system of ideas based on insufficiently examined premises
Medicare dogmatism will guarantee mediocrity at best.
We need a system that:
puts patients’ needs first
makes patient experience central to funding
gives patients great access
offers patient choice
guarantees quality care (Quality should be a given)
demonstrates business excellence
attracts the best leaders
rewards great outcomes; not mediocrity
aligns incentives for every provider
rewards grass-roots provider innovation
gives control to health-care experts
This can happen in a publicly funded system, but it will never happen if people resist change.
We need to stop thinking that health-care is so special, complicated and unchangeable.
Do we love medicare more than patient care? Can we have an adult conversation about change? What do you think?
I share these ideas and feelings wholeheartedly, but could never articulate them like this. Public or no public we need dynamic change leaders not the malaise of disengaged managers
Well said, Scotty!
“…we need dynamic change leaders not the malaise of disengaged managers.”
Cheers
S
We desperately need better patient care. The previous comment I agree with – need for dynamic leaders who see how to address the needs. Our loved ones are waiting, lost in the shuffle. A friend in her 70s told me a few days ago that she has an appointment for a colonoscopy that she has been waiting on for TWO years! That seems excessively long to me. If there was a serious health concern – Two years waiting for test means serious complications and perhaps loss of life!
I want a system that puts patients front and centre again. I am glad to see Social Media exposing the delays and the shortages in our health care. I feel for the seniors and vulnerable in our society who wait in silence.
Thank you.
What a great/sad note, Natrice! Unless we can share stories, as you have, we will never get genuine system change.
“I want a system that puts patients front and centre again.”
Well said indeed. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!
Best Regards,
Shawn
Interesting note Shawn. Rewarding mediocrity is a big problem in my eyes. In our fever to make sure everyone is treated/treated equally, we allow a lot of mediocre care and frankly poor behaviour to be tolerated. Until funding starts to focus on some kind of quality measure, mediocrity will be the norm.
Great point, Jon.
It makes us ask, “What is quality?” and “Quality of what, exactly?” Providers focus on the quality of medical care; patients might have a thicker definition of quality. Then we might ask, “What is medical care?” Some might say it’s matching patients with evidence; others might say it’s clinical judgement.
Despite the challenges, I totally agree, “until funding starts to focus on some kind of quality measure, mediocrity will be the norm.”
Thanks for commenting!
Cheers
Shawn