Sometimes news items pop up that remind us why we so desperately need change in healthcare. Many of you may have seen the New York Times article: “Debt collector is faulted for tough tactics in hospital.”
If you have not read this article, please do. Here is an excerpt:
“The tactics, like embedding debt collectors as employees in emergency rooms and demanding that patients pay before receiving treatment, were outlined in hundreds of company documents released by the attorney general. And they cast a spotlight on the increasingly desperate strategies among hospitals to recoup payments as their unpaid debts mount.”
What does it say about our healthcare system when we are willing to place our priorities on getting paid above providing care? No doubt, hospitals are not the only ones who have a business that they need to run and paying for their services is always a high priority; however, what happens when the importance of business trumps the service? What happens when the money or the bottom line takes precedent over making sure the patient receives high quality and effective healthcare?
We have discussed before the need for hospitals and other entities in healthcare to modify their business model. In fact, some go far as to say that unless we change the entire structure of the healthcare system we will continue to hear stories like this.
We must disrupt the healthcare business model in order to better meet the needs of our communities.
Let us all work towards moving away from a “sickcare” system that is rewarded for sickness, and move towards a truly “health” care system that is about health and wellness.
If you are not fired up by what we see going on daily in healthcare, please take a moment and read the New York Times article.
Where are the healthcare systems priorities?
Where are your priorities in changing that broken system?
Dr. Miller has his doctorate in clinical psychology and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine where he is the Director of the Office of Integrated Healthcare Research and Policy. His core task is to integrate mental health across all three of the department’s core mission areas: clinical, education, and research. Opinions expressed here are his own and not those of his employer.
