Are these the best of times or the worst of times to practice medicine? Whether you are the provider or the recipient in this upcoming healthcare transformation, there must be some nerve in your body that is twitching these days.
Surely, as the days, weeks, and possibly months unfold, many questions arise about Universal Health Care. We know that a recently passed bill may soon become a law. However, so many unknown parameters stand to be defined, and it is a bit unsettling to contemplate whether the first chapter will give hints of a best seller or whether it will read like any good mystery posing more questions than answers by the time you reach the end.
I know that my mind has been rattling. I cannot help but wonder how my patients will be affected, if my own ways of practicing medicine will change, and how my colleagues and I will be affected in regards to liability, patient care, reimbursement. Definite challenges lie ahead in 2010.
As someone who was born and raised in a socialist health care system, I have my own opinion about whether I agree with a similar system here. I will definitely say it is beneficial to have access to medical care, yet the wait for tests, treatments, appointments can be distressing. Then again, I do believe that there are major problems in our healthcare system here. Besides the huge number of uninsured, problems exist with those who have insurance. Not a day goes by in my office where I am spending crucial patient time trying to get authorization for a test or medication. Has my value as a physician been degraded to bargaining with insurance companies about who needs what tests? I thought that I was here to provide the best care I can give to all who need it. Shouldnt I be able to order a test if it is necessary? Then again, maybe we have relied too much on tests and laboratory results rather than our own knowledge and clinical skills. Doesnt anyone believe what they see anymore?
If I could foreshadow the future, I would say there will be an unhappy and unruly group of health care providers who will have a great deal of difficulty accepting this change. Despite a devotion and love for medicine, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical therapists, physicians and all those involved in patient care may not be so attentive.
Also, as a country that has been a world leader in technology, wealth, research, it is our duty to make sure that this project is done right. After all, being ranked last in quality of health care (among the list of developed countries), is not something we want repeated.
I will try to remain optimistic and take the change in stride. With any new system being implemented, we will all have to be patient! Despite many obstacles in this world, even the most difficult challenges can be overcome. I will stay hopeful that as each new sun rises, so will a good deed be done.
Bottom line: will we see a healthier population of people with adequate medical coverage, or a more distraught population of patients who will be left hoping for another type of reform?
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