The holiday season came and went. And while thoughts of good will were still dancing in our heads, I asked readers about their healthcare hopes for the future. Here are the results:
My thoughts: I always learn so much from reader feedback. With the first question, it makes sense that the top choice for a national “gift” would be health coverage. In the world’s wealthiest country, it’s unacceptable that 30 million people still live without health insurance. The second-most popular choice, “access to healthy foods,” surprised me in a good way. Helping Americans avoid diabetes and lowering their risks for cancer are made possible through proper diet and weight management. And what a gift it would be if fewer of our friends and neighbors suffered the consequences of those diseases. Increasingly, the medical profession is beginning to understand that “food is medicine.”
With the second question, I’m encouraged by the emphasis on lifestyle improvements: a combination of diet, exercise and achieving a normal weight. Whenever I write about chronic diseases and the toll they inflict, healthcare professionals ask about the patient’s responsibility. That concern is reflected in these selections. Resolving for our nation to live a healthier, more active lifestyle aligns with the view that people need to do more for their own health.
And when it comes to improving the healthcare system (question No. 3), readers focused on areas outside the traditional boundaries of medical practice, emphasizing the social determinants of health and preventive health services. Doing so will be essential if we want to improve clinical outcomes and reduce medical costs.
We simply can’t maximize health or lives saved by waiting for people to develop complications from chronic disease (heart attacks, stroke, cancer) and then trying to reverse them. As a country, we need to get to the front of the problems whether they derive from socioeconomics, chronic diseases or lifestyle issues. We haven’t figured out how to solve any of these challenges particularly well, but this level of recognition from Monthly Musings readers is an encouraging first step.
Thanks to all who voted! To participate in future surveys, and for access to timely news and opinion on American healthcare, sign up for my free (and ad-free) newsletter Monthly Musings on American Healthcare.
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Dr. Robert Pearl is the former CEO of The Permanente Medical Group, the nation’s largest physician group. He’s a Forbes contributor, bestselling author, Stanford University professor, and host of two healthcare podcasts. Pearl’s newest book, “Uncaring: How the Culture of Medicine Kills Doctors & Patients,” is available now. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.
