The American health care system is becoming inescapable Hamster Wheel And much of the blame falls on doctors and, more justifiably, insurance companies.
However, the impact that patients have on the system should not be underestimated.
I have a friend who gets primary care through urgent care and non-urgent care at the grocery store. He is overweight and pre-diabetic. When I tell him he needs to build a relationship with his primary care doctor, he Wait 6 months to book Because he is not an established patient.
This creates a cycle that has a negative impact on his care and the system as a whole.
Here’s the truth behind four misconceptions about the patient’s role in today’s healthcare ecosystem.
For patients, good care is good enough until they need it. Having convenient care is more important than waiting for good care. But when a neglected, overlooked, or unmanaged health issue becomes an issue, those same patients want to be moved to the front of the line and prioritized.
When your air conditioner breaks down in the middle of the night or on the weekend, you pay extra for after-hours service. And if you don’t have an existing relationship with an HVAC company, you’re at the back of their line. The same goes for healthcare.
I believe we are part of the problem, I believe we can do better, and I believe patients share responsibility for what’s happening in health care.
Lucien W. Roberts, III, MHA, FACMPE, has been living on the medical hamster wheel for many years, and as he nears retirement age, he’s avoiding it, the Mad Hatter Teacup Ride at Disney World, and anything else that makes him anxious.
