I have practiced medicine – in the OR & ICU for almost 40 years. Any of us – including me – can misdiagnose a problem with which one of our fellow humans presents. Yet, the article’s clarity as to the the root of the issue is precise: It is a financial problem.
If sacrificing our future – our youth – on the altar of a health system that is profoundly dysfunctional does not open the eyes of our political leaders, we are lost.
Once again, any of us can make a diagnostic mistake, but the profoundly dysfunctionality of the US Health System means that we pay Primary Care Physicians poorly; we seek the lowest price “provider” we can get away with. I work with very gifted Advanced Practitioners and Nurses, but health care is a team sport and there MUST be serious physician supervision when caring for our people.
The Duke University Spokesperson asserts: “Duke Student Health and Wellness will provide the highest level of care and is connected to one of the most advanced health-care systems in the world…” This is a well-intentioned, but meaningless, statement, as are many responses from the Universities/Colleges the reporters queried. Duke, IU, UF, all of the institutions would be well-served to admit the difficulty we are in and openly support the obvious – after over 100 years of dilly-dallying – solution.
I have been, since a young man, arguing for a national health system for our people, for our country. We have made essentially no progress during my lifetime; the Affordable Care Act – as much as I respect former President Obama – protects the profits of insurance companies, costs too much, and is a bureaucratic nightmare. This article should make all of us recognize that while ANY health system will have problems with which we will need to struggle, a rational, national health system Is. The. Answer.
This is why – as a senior physician, teacher and researcher – I support, have supported, and will continue to support some version of Medicare for All.
