Reforming the way we work in health care doen't have to wait for political reform

For years I've lived health delivery reform - in my own practice, vicariously through others, and in teaching  & studying medical office practice redesign with hundreds of practices all over the US.

Without a doubt I can state that current policies & the mode of payment are immense barriers to redesigning the way we work.  Changing health care policies and payment to create an environment supportive of doing the right thing for our patients would be a wonderful thing.  I yearn for the day, but I won't hold my breath.

Political health care reform is, well, political.  That means its often irrational, does the right thing for those who write big checks to congress, but often fails to do the right thing for the patients I serve.

Without any health care reform or insurance company changes or universal coverage or any of those wonderful things, I was able to totally retool my practice to better focus my time on what my patients really need:  better access to care, improved relationship & communication, more coordination of care as they navigate the complex health system.  I was able to do this because I assumed I had the power to change what I did.  I gave up being a victim of the system and stepped way out on a limb to try new stuff.

Hundreds of docs from all across the US are doing this now.  It's not all wonderful - some of these brave souls have taken big personal risks and been punished by their local environments that prove too toxic to primary care (we call these "dead zones"), but many more have succeeded and the shared learning of pitfalls and smart moves is making it easier for successive waves.

Keep hope alive folks, it's possible to break free of the broken system, it's possible to be the professional you envisioned when you started your training.  Don't hold your breath while Congress makes sausage, get out there and create the practice of your dreams.

I've moved to Seattle for my wife's new job & I'm excitedly planning my new office using the best & latest tech & solutions to ideal care.  Join me in re-energizing primary care - it's a great career choice if you get to do it right.

Comments

[Mark Bebout]

Congratulations and good for you. It is a breath of fresh air for someone to point out to the rest of the healthcare world that waiting for political reform is not the way to improve your practice and the patients that you serve. Take control of what you can and you will be surprised at how much change one practice can make.

Stop waiting on Washington, chances are you won't like the changes they make anyways!

[Pamela Wible]

Great Gordon!