- Why so much turnover in mayor's office?
- Hearing on the Ruby Hill towers
- Let freedom ring
- Promoting socialized medicine
- Immigration Laws or Lack Thereof
- Atheist Diversionary Tactics
- The "Melting Pot" is unique to America
- Many mighty hearts covering the world
- Roan Drilling Bad for Colorado, country
- Americans entitled to universal health care
Improving health care in Colorado
This Speakout has not been edited
By Stacey Hammond and Felicia Montano, Boulder
As a media outlet for the public, the newspapers need to take a more active role in informing Colorado residents about problems in the current healthcare system. How can we take an active role in society if we are not educated or informed on the issues? One issue in particular, which we need to draw focus on, is chronic disease management.
It is well recognized that the medical community is not meeting the challenge of chronic care patients. Healthcare outcomes in the United States underperform other industrialized nations and costs continue to escalate. Health care insurance is unaffordable to many employers and 46 million Americans are uninsured. 45% of the U.S. population has a chronic medical condition and half of them have multiple chronic diseases. This problem will only expand as the population over 85 years old increases 50% by 2010 and doubles by 2030. Medicare cutbacks in services and decreasing reimbursements to physicians are creating added burdens to patients.
A new medical care paradigm that emphasizes comprehensive care instead of episodic treatment for acute care has been established and implemented at academic, healthcare institutions and large multispecialty practices with varying success. The vast majority of patients are not being reached. The current crisis in health care cannot wait for graduate medical education to train new physicians in this model. The current medical workforce needs to be encouraged and financially supported to adopt and integrate chronic care into their current practices and serve as a model for the ensuing generation of physicians.
Introducing this concept of care to small private practices is difficult due to time and financial constraints as well as a resistance to change. In addition, small practices do not have the ancillary personnel to adapt the new paradigm into their practice. The physician's efforts are further frustrated as patients often do not have the financial means to obtain the medications, medical services and durable medical supplies necessary to optimize their health.
In order to successfully empower patients to manage their chronic illness, they need access to continuing education that provides accountability and promotes change. In addition, comprehensive chronic care needs to be provided at one site to facilitate access and convenience, as well as, foster a personal, therapeutic and long-lasting relationship.