I think it’s important to note that doctors and health professionals are not solely at fault if, for example, they suggest too many surgeries or prescribe more pills. There’s a culture here in the United States that sorely equates drastic medical action leads to drastically better health. Perhaps we’ve become addicted to quick effortless solutions. According to the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, the United States filled a record-breaking 4.3 billion prescriptions in 2014.
It makes sense. Being in a state of disease is certainly something you’d like a professional to get rid of as fast and soon as possible. Because we’ve seen what power drugs and risky surgeries can accomplish, we only want the best for ourselves. We crave action. Unfortunately, hard medical action isn’t always necessary. A lot of times it’s best to wait it out and see. Trying to tell a patient that their drive over to the doctor’s office, their wait in the lobby, and their copay fee was so that they can be told to wait i tout longer, get some rest, and call again if anything happens. It can be frustrating as a patient. Some demand some kind of pill or action. “There needs to be something done.” To appease a now sick and angry patient, a doctor may feel inclined to prescribe an antibiotic or suggest they see a specialist that may suggest surgery. As a pre-med student often shadowing and volunteering with doctors at the hospital, I witness doctors expressing the common frustration of prescribing inaction when patients want a fight.
This may be one small detail in the overall need to “fix” the system. I do think it is an important issue that revolves around pharmaceuticals, economy, and the culture of our health expectations.
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2015/08/if-you-could-change-one-thing-in-the-health-care-system-book-club-day-3.html/
It makes sense. Being in a state of disease is certainly something you’d like a professional to get rid of as fast and soon as possible. Because we’ve seen what power drugs and risky surgeries can accomplish, we only want the best for ourselves. We crave action. Unfortunately, hard medical action isn’t always necessary. A lot of times it’s best to wait it out and see. Trying to tell a patient that their drive over to the doctor’s office, their wait in the lobby, and their copay fee was so that they can be told to wait i tout longer, get some rest, and call again if anything happens. It can be frustrating as a patient. Some demand some kind of pill or action. “There needs to be something done.” To appease a now sick and angry patient, a doctor may feel inclined to prescribe an antibiotic or suggest they see a specialist that may suggest surgery. As a pre-med student often shadowing and volunteering with doctors at the hospital, I witness doctors expressing the common frustration of prescribing inaction when patients want a fight.
This may be one small detail in the overall need to “fix” the system. I do think it is an important issue that revolves around pharmaceuticals, economy, and the culture of our health expectations.
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2015/08/if-you-could-change-one-thing-in-the-health-care-system-book-club-day-3.html/