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9/18/2007
What?? I'm responsible for my own health?
$80 billion. That’s what health literacy folks claim the U.S. wastes every year because people are just too dumb to participate in their own health care. Or, being more diplomatic and kind, you and your doctor or your doctor’s office or your lab or your nurse or whatever – aren’t communicating thoroughly, constructively and accurately.
So who cares? I do. And you should too. Because this health care debate sits squarely on my shoulders and your shoulders. All of us. Everybody.
Whose job is it to keep you healthy? Well, yours, of course. To not eat too much, to exercise, to not smoke, to follow the rules very, very closely if you’re a diabetic or have heart irregularities. Yours, yours, yours, yours, yours.
I know. Not everyone is so fortunate as to be fully in charge of their own health. Things happen. Genetics happen. Accidents happen. Disease happens. I know.
And yes, many argue doctors are paid too much. Too many tests, non-emergencies in the emergency room, insurance companies skimming off the top. Argue what you will.
But here’s the darned argument that more of us have to make over and over and over. Only when health care costs can be controlled, only when health care costs don’t eat up more than a king’s ransom portion of our GDP will we be able to afford, as a society, to pay for adequate health care for all.
I don’t know how many different ways that has to be said. And surely, much is being done about it. For example, did you see the article in FoxPolitics News last week touting Minnesota’s launch of a statewide patient health information exchange?
So here’s a start. Get literate. (The EC Leader Telegram featured a quick article about this a couple of weeks ago.)
Ask your doctor 3 questions (Ask Me 3 – Tips for Clear Health Communication).
Question your doctor and your doctor’s office. Why? What? When? How long? You know the drill. This is your health. Get the facts.
This one is kind of fun. Check your medical literacy by taking the REALM test. (Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine). You pronounce 66 words – and have some learned geek (or “medical professional”) judge how you did.
Be an informed consumer. Compare hospitals.
Be an informed consumer. Compare provider quality in your area.
How about this? Wear your bicycle and motorcycle helmets. (Ok, I’m a nerd on a motorcycle; I don’t take off, whether in the driver’s seat or partnered-up, unless that helmet is on. Would you like to be paying for my recuperation from severe head trauma?)
Ok, enough lecturing. What can each of us do to reduce the cost and utilization of health care in Wisconsin?
COMMENTS
I could not agree with you more. My wife is an internist here in Wisconsin. So I am probably biased. It is amazing to me the stories she tells me about people who do not care about their own health. She sits down with each patient, and goes over their health history, and why they need to be taking certain medications, or change a certain part of their lifestyle. Many of these people refuse to do these things. She explains to them what continuing to smoke will do, but they continue to smoke. She has patients that have diabetes or high blood pressure who do not regularly take their meds, they are too expensive they say. But they can afford their 2-3 pack a day habit. People need to ask their doctor questions, they need to be educated about why a test is being done. I cannot speak for all internists, but my wife will tell each patient why a certain test is needed, what it does, and what it will tell. She is not paid, and to my knowledge most reputable doctors are not paid on how many tests they order.
People will always say that some doctors are probably paid too much, but who can define what that is. I do know that primary care doctors reimbursement levels are not that good and that is why potential medical students are not choosing that route. If your are in medicine for the money, primary care is not the route to go. Specialist pay is much better.
People need to trust their doctor, if you do not, find another. A good doctor will have your best interest at heart and be your advocate. My wife has fought insurance companies and administration for her patients. Your doctor should too. But the most important things are to be educated, ask questions, and to remember you are ultimately responsible for your own health, no one else.
Thank you John. Very helpful stuff. JE
John P (Tue Sep 18 14:01:37 2007)
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