Responsible Health

Common Sense For Health - Dr. Michael Fleming

What is it about the US health care system? Why can't we seem to get it right? How can we spend nearly 17% of our GDP - trillions of dollars - annually, and still be mired among the lower tier of nations in health quality? And why do countries that rank above us in quality measures spend much less? Good questions, all; and although the answers are not easy, they're relatively simple.

First of all, virtually our entire fragmented system is focused on sick care, not health care. Many researchers have shown that doing simple things in the wellness universe - broad application of immunizations, annual screenings for early detection of cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors, etc. - remarkably improves outcomes, and decreases sick care. Early detection of colorectal cancer can lead to a cure, whereas late detection usually leads to tragic outcomes. Screening for this curable cancer is easy enough. But only about 29% of Americans who should have screening actually have it.

Immunizations hold one of the most vital keys to disease prevention ever developed. In fact, the only infectious disease ever eradicated was eradicated not by a super antibiotic, but by an immunization - smallpox. Infant vaccines have been a mainstay in preventing diseases that were major causes of childhood illness and death just a few generations ago. The newest vaccinations can prevent one of the most deadly cancers in women - the HPV vaccine, one of the most painful and debilitating diseases in the elderly - shingles, most cases of the most common type of community-acquired pneumonia - pneumococcal vaccine, and hepatitis B - one of the most debilitating and deadly forms of the liver disease. And yet most people in this country are not up-to-date on their immunizations.

And finally, we as patients share in the responsibility to quality. We believe that in health care as in life, "more is better." In fact, in most cases, the more things we have done, the greater the likelihood for error and complication. It is up to us to maintain health. We all know what things make us healthy - sensible diets with necessary supplements, physical activity - healthy lifestyles. Just these simple changes can have enormous effects.

So let's take some responsibility for ourselves to be good consumers of health care and to stay healthy.