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Further, the payments are aimed at 'high tech' interventions rather than 'low tech.' The population is aging and chronic diseases are more common. Many of the ill effects of chronic diseases such as diabetes are preventable. The system will not pay the physician to counsel patients about diet and exercise but will pay for tests.
Until the system changes to a focus on health, rather than disease, the U.S. health care system will remain dysfunctional. It is high time for institutions and professional associations to stop trumpeting their succeses in high technology and focus on the health of the population.
This latter aproach is less costly and more effective in the long run. The High Tech approach is effective only in the short run,
Competing interests:
Thank you for your comments. However I do not believe that innovation in data systems alone will make much difference. A major part of the anomaly in the U.S. system is the failure of the third party payment providers (both private insurance and government) to pay to evaluate health status of individuals and counsel them on staying healthy.
Dr
Further, the payments are aimed at 'high tech' interventions rather than 'low tech.' The population is aging and chronic diseases are more common. Many of the ill effects of chronic diseases such as diabetes are preventable. The system will not pay the physician to counsel patients about diet and exercise but will pay for tests.
Until the system changes to a focus on health, rather than disease, the U.S. health care system will remain dysfunctional. It is high time for institutions and professional associations to stop trumpeting their succeses in high technology and focus on the health of the population.
This latter aproach is less costly and more effective in the long run. The High Tech approach is effective only in the short run,
Competing interests: Thank you for your comments. However I do not believe that innovation in data systems alone will make much difference. A major part of the anomaly in the U.S. system is the failure of the third party payment providers (both private insurance and government) to pay to evaluate health status of individuals and counsel them on staying healthy.