Education and now healthcare....
My parents are both retired teachers and it constantly amazes me how many people believe it is up to educators to teach their kids to be "good" people. Don't worry honey, we don't need to talk to the kid about sex, they'll learn in school. We don't need to pay attention to the kid or stop that bad behavior, they'll take care of it in school and teach them everything they need to know about life.
Now it's falling on healthcare providers to take responsibility for ensuring you are healthy. I just read a story about Governor Pawlenty's new plan to hold physicians accountable for making people healthy. So the government will start measuring how individuals with chronic conditions are doing and then hold the physician accountable. We are already tracking this info where I work, as are most provider groups - it's already being measured by every healthplan in town. I think it's a good thing, but I worry things like physicians being measured on whether their patients quit smoking, whether they come in for their clinic visits and whether they are meeting the goals. There will always be patients who just don't care and refuse to take responsibility for their own health - look at all the obese people in our country. Everyone KNOWS it's not healthy to be obese, but they just keep on eating and not exercising - heck, I'm guilty myself! I lost 17 pounds and have gained 5 back.....time to put that chocolate away!
My point is - people need to take responsibility for themselves and their own health - yes, we in healthcare will certainly be happy to help you reach those goals, but don't hold us entirely accountable, because in the end, it's your decision.
Now it's falling on healthcare providers to take responsibility for ensuring you are healthy. I just read a story about Governor Pawlenty's new plan to hold physicians accountable for making people healthy. So the government will start measuring how individuals with chronic conditions are doing and then hold the physician accountable. We are already tracking this info where I work, as are most provider groups - it's already being measured by every healthplan in town. I think it's a good thing, but I worry things like physicians being measured on whether their patients quit smoking, whether they come in for their clinic visits and whether they are meeting the goals. There will always be patients who just don't care and refuse to take responsibility for their own health - look at all the obese people in our country. Everyone KNOWS it's not healthy to be obese, but they just keep on eating and not exercising - heck, I'm guilty myself! I lost 17 pounds and have gained 5 back.....time to put that chocolate away!
My point is - people need to take responsibility for themselves and their own health - yes, we in healthcare will certainly be happy to help you reach those goals, but don't hold us entirely accountable, because in the end, it's your decision.
posted by Kate @ 8:24 PM
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