‘SHIFTING FROM THE MEDICINE OF SICKNESS TO ONE OF WELLNESS’

 

Americans every where, especially the 47 million + uninsured are wondering, will this administration be the one to bring us out of the dark ages medicine? Yes, we’ve seen many new and wonderful advances in the treatment of disease, but in that lay a big part of the problem. We are still not dealing in the medicine of wellness only that of sickness.

 

It doesn’t come as any big surprise that so many will wait until they are sick to seek professional help, if you have to choose between feeding your family or going to the doctor for a wellness check up, or doing other costly kinds of therapy to keep yourself well you will wait until you are sick, maybe too sick to make a good recovery. What a very sad commentary for a nation that is still one of the most forwarding thinking and resourceful in the world. I for one will be watching closely- self-employment equals costly health insurance.

 

A new first of its kind study sponsored by the California Nurses Association shows that establishing a national single-payer style healthcare reform system would provide a major stimulus for the U. S. economy. The study shows that expanding Medicare to include the uninsured, and the under insured would have the following impacts:

 

1.    Create 2,613,495 million new permanent good paying jobs

2.    Boost the economy with $317 billion in increased business and public revenues

3.    Add $100 billion in employee compensation

4.    Infuse public budgets with $44 billion in new tax revenues.

5.    End medical bankruptcy.

 

The above is based on current statistics that show that every direct healthcare dollar creates nearly three additional dollars in the U. S. economy- the current facts:

 

1.    Healthcare generates 45 million jobs, directly and in related industries

2.    Accounts for 10.5% of all U.S. jobs and 12.1% of all U.S. wages

3.    Totals 9.2% of the nation’s GNP

4.    Contributes 25% of all federal tax revenues.

 

A new fully funded healthcare program would also include and push the medicine of wellness. At the end of the day, a healthy individual equals a productive individual. This is not to say that people don’t get sick and need treatment. But with a new focus on helping people stay well, the practice of medicine should see a dramatic shift.

 

Multi-level therapies under one roof will become the norm. Someone with a headache may see the massage therapist or the chiropractor before actually seeing an MD. Our aging population will benefit as well, with more focus on nutrition, psychosocial counseling and physical therapy.

 

For decades the powers that be have fought a single payer system thinking it’s more money out of their pocket. When in reality simple programs of wellness available to every American will reduce illness, hospitalizations and save business thousands in lost revenues due to employee illness. It’s a win win. Till next time, Rebecca.

 

1/22/09