Take Charge

I have to give kudos to journalist Lauren Neergaard from the AP for a great article published on Yahoo! News June 7th. She discussed a matter very close to my heart and had references to organizations and groups that were working on the issue. The issue to which I refer is unnecessary medical tests or services.

An interesting phenomena with people and MOST especially people in the USA, is that they believe more is always better. In fact, having a test or drug that you don’t need can be as harmful as not having those that you do need. Knowing the difference is challenging, but you know what, it really is YOUR job to figure it out.

I would call your attention to the American College of Physicians, the Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making and the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. The last mentioned has information on the vagaries in health care spending by location. Ms. Neergaard noted the difference spent on care between Idaho and Miami – with regard to hospital days in the last six months of life. The literature is rife with examples of little to no benefit for much of the extra testing, medicating, cutting and hospitalizing.

When politicians get involved in this – which really calls for an overhaul in the way we do things- then the accusations fly and fear tactics begin. Less care may in fact ADD days to your life not take them away. I am telling you that the over radiation issue is NOT going away, but gaining clout. We (the patient and the clinician) have GOT to understand that just because a medicine or a test exists does NOT mean that we need it. Of course the companies that have made the test or the drug or the imaging machine – or hospital for that matter, want you to USE it and the more users and uses the better – but the people who make cigarettes want you to smoke them too, that doesn’t mean you should!

I would hope that all physicians are conscientious people who not only want to do all the research necessary to provide the best and the necessary care but have the TIME to do so. It isn’t likely. The American College of Physicians has some great guidelines for care and testing on their website and the Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making is working to provide patient friendly materials to guide us. I have a good physician – I have chosen him and my last two providers with great care – in the last ten years, I have been very discerning in this regard. So must YOU be.

I will tell you some truths. Truth one: Your most valuable possession is your body and your mind. Truth two: No one has a more vested interest in the health of your body and mind then YOU do. Truth three: You are the BOSS of YOU – the KEEPER of YOU – the GUARDIAN of YOU. Truth four: In the end, you own your actions and inactions. Health care cannot be a passive activity – get informed.