NPR / Kaiser / Harvard School of Public Health published a poll that shows that, for the most part, the public is on our side. They believe that “their doctor” is the best to take care of them, make decisions and decide what is the best treatment, and that insurance companies and government should stay out of the decision making process. The poll shows that the public believes that we are trying to keep cost down and that insurance should pay for all services asked for by their doctor.
The poll also shows that the public, as us, believes that just spending money on EMR’s is not going to improve their health or bring cost down; the most important part, it seems, is their relationship with their doctor.
Personally, I think that we should make sure that the government and all powers at be, understand this plain and simple reality. This poll validates my point that we need to bring our patients into the fray; they should populate the barricades with us.
José E. Batlle, MD
Hoboken NJ
Comments