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July 28, 2008
Doctor -- reveal thyself
by Peter Pitts
The other day I attended a seminar (sponsored by Pfizer) at the New York Academy of Sciences. (40th floor at 250 Greenwich Street -- what a view!)
But the views offered on the inside were equally stimulating.
A few examples:
Elizabeth Teisberg (Professor, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia):
"Today pay-for-performance" means "pay-for-process-compliance."
Dr. J. Edward Hill (Past President, American Medical Association):
"If we believe in evidence-based medicine, then we should consider the evidence of what government run healthcare provides."
Dr. Hill also posed this interesting question, "Can we really have personalized care provided by the government?"
Dr. Michael McGinnis (Senior Scholar, Institute of Medicine):
"40% of deaths in the US are caused by the behavioral choices we make," led by lack of diet, not enough exercise -- and tobacco.
He also pointed out that "what happens at the intersections of the domains of influence" is what drives both health and care. McGinnis defined the relevant "domains of influence" as Behavioral, Genetic, Social, Environmental, and Healthcare.
There was much heated debate and audience participation -- but the most memorable comment was also one of the pithiest and it came from Dr. Hill who said, "People need to quit being complacent."
And included on that list of people needs to be doctors.
(Yes, doctors are people too.)
I asked Dr. Hill why we only hear from doctors when it's about their payment schedules. His reply was honest -- "I was afraid someone was going to ask me that question."
And that's when he offered the remark about complacency.
Posted by peterpitts at July 28, 2008 08:58 AM
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