Health Care Reform-It's Simple

[Oscar Carter]

Recently, while visiting Capitol Hill, I was asked by United States Congressman Bobby Scott what my idea was in regard to health care reform in this country. I stumbled over the question, realizing how enormously the system is broken and the complexity of the issues involved in addressing the difficulties people have with access, costs and quality. In my attempt to refocus on the Congressman’s question, I was able to edge in a word or two about how I felt the only way for the United States to make a meaningful difference in reforming the health system was to get a substantially greater number of people to change their eating and fitness habits and to begin to get them to live healthier lifestyles. Simply, that is it.

For over 30 years, I have worked as a health services and public health administration executive and have held many top leadership positions in the field. Although I have always defined my primary skill as an expert in organizational management and behavior, I am realizing I also know a lot about the health system and how it operates. I have been reluctant to speak out mainly because I know how quickly so many people jump to pointing their finger at greedy doctors, pharmaceutical and insurance companies, and lawyers who quickly suggest malpractice suits and charge high fees and the government as the major culprits. These people, and the public and private organizations they represent, are not the primary contributors to the problem; not singularly and not collectively either. Certainly, there are areas to be fixed with each; profiteering drug and insurance companies, inefficient government practices and more. But, it is not them. It is us, the American people who have placed for years, and are continuing to place, an unwieldy and unmanageable demand on the system causing inequities, unfairness, exorbitant costs, lack of access and ultimately a health system that does not work. We know this, yet we continue to ignore the personal responsibility and role each of us plays and our families play in overburdening our doctors, clinics and hospitals with preventable illnesses, sicknesses and injuries, poor health practices and reckless ( I use the word cautiously) lifestyles.

Lastly, let it be known that for the most part our doctors, and am I am not one of them, comprise the one part of our health care system that has always been and continues to be right with it. The fix is to empower them and empower ourselves in the health and medical decision making and health education process. That is the solution if this country is to maintain the extraordinary medicine available in this country.

Read My Acai Berry Testimony June 8th Post Below and Go to Neutrally Yours.

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[Jonathan August]

great post Oscar. Big fan of the personal responsibility aspect of this. It's not always just 'them' or just 'us'. It's a little bit of everyone and if every single person took on their own personal health and well being, in a no kidding I am doing this, kind of way it would make a huge difference. That is what my belief is and what I espouse when I work with my clients. It's their choice to BE healthy or not (granted accidents, etc.. happen) but when it comes to what a person puts in their mouth, presently, pre codex alimentarius (google it-it's scary) it's their choice. be well, Jonathan