My fellow citizens,
Is health care a privilege or a right? That may be the most contentious question in the whole health care debate. Unfortunately, as many of you know firsthand, our current partisan landscape prevents principled dialogue, and instead focuses on undue regulations and biased talking points. From a father’s perspective, and having lost a child, my view is that every individual has a right to choose the best possible healthcare based on their medical condition – no parent should ever outlive their child. At the core of our humanity I think this is something we can all agree on?
It was my son’s medical journey and frustration with the lack of transparency in clinical outcomes that led me to write a book on Value Management for Healthcare, create a startup to build an application to help patients make informed decisions, and leave the private sector to work at the Department of Veterans Affairs to help them focus on the value-based outcomes for Veterans. Rather than sitting on the sidelines all of us as citizens can do something. We do not need more regulation, nor adversarial relationship between patient and provider or payer, but do need to put the power back in the demand side of healthcare – the patients’ ability to make educated choices.
A more informed (and accountable) patient population can lead to better decision-making and behavior regarding healthcare needs, improved care delivery and spur innovation to reduce overall costs. Yes, healthcare costs are escalating and consume 19.2% of GDP, and yes there are many shortcomings in the numerous existing regulations, but that is not the story that matters most to people. The authentic story that matters to people is based on their medical condition an individual or parent, child, brother or sister achieved the best health outcome relative to the cost of achieving those outcomes. However, how do Americans choose a doctor today? Is it word of mouth? Yelp? Or luck? In 2015, according to PEW Research, 111.6 million Americans searched online for outcomes related to a medical condition – none found an objective answer. As a fellow citizen, I ask that each of you help now in shaping the public discourse for a healthcare system focused on value. Please share your story about an experience in a specific hospital or with a health provider at Tell Your Story.
It is through our combined stories that we shall create an environment in which patients can make truly informed choices about their healthcare in ways that democratize access to the best available healthcare options. Championing transparency in healthcare is an apolitical story that matters to everyone. After all, shouldn’t every parent be able to choose the best doctor for their child based on the outcomes?
Selfless Service + Leadership = Social Change