Dr. Thompson's Blog

Fixing the Health Care System

In the New York Times yesterday, an article on the editorial pages tried to convince readers that the way to fix our broken health care system was to reduce doctors' pay. The author either works for an insurance company, a drug company, or the administration. As a practicing physician for fifty years, I know the incomes good, ethical doctors make. Their yearly incomes are a tiny fraction of what greedy CEOs of  HMO's, drug, and insurance companies make. These individuals receive salaries and bonuses in the millions. For example, William McGuire, the CEO of United Health Group, received stock options worth 1.6 billion last year in addition to his very large salary. Pfizer CEO was fired Hank McKinnell,  but left with a pension of 6.65 million a year, plus 12 million in severance pay and a 2.5 million bonus.      No doctor makes anywhere near that. Yes, there are far too many greedy, unethical doctors who prey on patients, but unless a doctor does a lot of unnecessary procedures, hires untrained staff to do these or does plastic  or major surgeries, his income is not going to be enormous. The average income of a pediatrician is $125,000. CEOs of major corporations make far more than good doctors who save patients lives with their care, concern, and availability. I would love to see the CEO of an HMO, insurance, or drug company stay up all night fighting to save a patient's life and often not be paid for his or her time or only receive a small amount of money. (Yes, this can and does happen!)
Thirty-one percent of health care costs are due to administrative overhead. If this could be eliminated and  we could teach young doctors to do histories and physicals, instead of relying on multiple unnecessary  tests, we could reduce health care cost significantly and care for the 47 million uninsured people in the U.S.

Insisting on the Best Medical Care

A good friend and parent of three former patients just gave me an excellent example of how a family member (family members)  and patient can demand the best medical care. The friend's sister asked her to be present for a special cardiac procedure. The sisters were very close and always were there for each other.

The heart specialist walked into the room just prior to the scheduled time  and said , "I'm going to have another physician do your procedure. I have another case to do. This procedure is very common and my colleague is qualified to do it" The sister stood up to all of her 5'6" and said very respectfully, "Doctor, that is not going to happen. You were scheduled for this procedure and you are who we want." The patient also spoke up and said, " I researched you carefully, your education and experience,  and would not feel comfortable with anyone else."

The doctor looked a little shaken and surprised, left the room, made some phone calls and returned. He did the procedure and later apologized for the anxiety  he cause both sisters. The "squeaky wheel does get the grease!"

Health Insurance for Children

Eight million children in this rich, powerful nation are uninsured. Some are homeless, many are hungry and far too many don't get to go to school. Health care is the last thing many parents worry about. The parents' primary concern is that their children have food and shelter. Immunizations and other preventive health care measures usually goes by the wayside. George Bush's answer to those who want health care for poor children is that their health care can be taken care of in the emergency rooms. These are already crowded, they are not staffed by pediatricians, and immunizations, TB skin tests, and other screening measures are not available. This is not the answer!

The present program to insure poor children will expire on September 30th. The Democrats want to expand the program, but it is said that Mr. Bush plans to veto the legislation. This makes little sense when the program would be financed by an increase in the tax on tobacco products. The increased tax on cigarettes would be one dollar instead of the present thirty-nine cents.

Those who care about children, our country's future,  need to speak out now. 

Michael Moore's "Sicko"

I have just seen Michael Moore's newest movie and hope that people in the United States start complaining loudly about  health care. I have watched it slowly deteriorate in the last ten to fifteen years. Now it is all about making money for greedy CEO's of drug and insurance companies. Some greedy doctors must also accept the blame.
I particularly enjoyed the scenes at Hammersmith Hospital in London, where I have worked many times over a period of years. Hammersmith Hospital is the number one training center in the world for pediatric neuromuscular diseases. Anyone who wants to keep up-to-date on these disorders goes there to learn about the latest in patient care, muscle biopsy pathology, and research. There is no comparable center in the U.S. Michael Moore gave many true stories of patients who have received inadequate or no health care. I also give many sad and unacceptable stories of  bad or inadequate health care in my latest book, 101 Ways To The Best Medical Care. I would be delighted to hear from others about how they would re-do the current health care system to give everyone the kind of medical care that those living in France receive. They are very fortunate!

Massachusetts Universal Health Care Plan

Today,  July first, is supposed to be the date when everyone in Massachusetts is enrolled in an insurance plan. Reading the details in Pam Belluck's good article in today's New York Times, it doesn't sound as if the plan is workable. Small business owners say they can't afford to cover all their employees, even if the employee pays half of the cost. Many young, healthy people say they will just pay the penalty. If the penalty costs less than insurance that is understandable.
The insurance companies are still the ones to profit. By forcing people to buy insurance, I'm sure the companies are gleeful. There just has to be a better way. In my new book, 101 Ways To The Best Medical Care, I give some inexpensive ways insurance can be obtained for high-risk patients and others.
I would be interested in ideas from readers. Probably the one workable plan would be to expand Medicare to all. However, the drug companies and insurance companies will fight this with millions and millions of dollars.