What About Some Original Ideas, Innovation, and Change?

[Kristina Frazier-Henry]

One of the things that I find most frustrating (of course I am OLD so take this for what it's worth) is that with all of the awesomely talented/creative/highly intelligent people in Indiana, we haven't seemed to be able to solve some low hanging fruit in the health care field.

Whenever I talk with those in the field, I get a lot of pushback - and mostly what I perceive as "excuses". (And I apologize for offending any of you out there who do not react this way when this subject comes up.)

Believe me, I do understand the bureacracy of insurance and the federal and state governments however, I don't think that you have to let those three entities paralyze you from making a huge/significant change in the life of hoosiers.

I'll admit that a lot of my passion for this topic involves my own personal and unexpected health crisis which went on for two years. If you ever want to know what it's like to lose two years of your life, let me know :).

Rhetorical questions...

1) Why are there not closer partnerships between Indiana pharmacies and Indiana local health care groups? The whole process of getting a prescription filled can sometimes be a major event.

2) Why can't we have more holistic centers? I don't mean that in a new-age way. I mean this in a more one-stop shop way. For example, wouldn't it be great if there were practices that were set up to take care of the entire person - gynecological, neurological, endocronological, mental, etc...? I think that people can spend so much time, going back and forth between specialists (and weeks and weeks pass too). And then there's the passing of the records, the back and forth phone calls, etc...

Wouldn't it be great if a team of health care folks could solve the patient's challenges - TOGETHER instead of from the piece-meal approach? My personal belief is that there is SO much waste - in time and in money on the part of insurance companies and patients - and that doing something different has to be an improvement (says the optimistic side of me).

I see a lot of buildings going up - but maybe there are initiatives like this that are going on - and I (and others) just don't know about it.

Thoughts?

Kristina

[Kristina Frazier-Henry]

Hi Steve,

I wasn't sure how anyone would react to my rant so I thank you profusely for jumping in and taking the ride with me. I find myself agreeing with almost everything that you're saying. Scary :).

Here are some additional thoughts that your post prompted me to think:

1) I think that insurance companies and our own silly laws in this country have molded behavior around health care that has made the population more victim-like instead of more self-sufficient.

It's kind of like the welfare system too (but don't get me started on that one....).

2) Everything in health care seems to be a "one size fits all" approach and obviously, that won't work because soon (or as I believe it is today), your outliers are now a larger population than those who can function under the one size fits all.

3) I think you're right about you can still make money running a hospital, but don't treat it like you're investing in a computer or financial company. That one sentence - to me - speaks volumes. Can you imagine - a Bill Gates, a Steve Jobs, heck a Scott Jones - taking over a chunk of health care? Now THAT'S the kind of change that would do a body good!

But all that aside Steve - even if we (or health care folks) won't be able to change the direction of this country immediately - I STILL think that the smart folks JUST IN THIS STATE can and should do something to show that WE are thinking and acting outside of the bun.

One of the specialists I went to - told me something that couldn't be more true....medicine has a basis in science but is mostly an art form.

So I go back to my original rant and I ask...

In Indiana....

Where are our artists in health care?
Where are our creative folks in health care?
And what is holding them back from changing our hoosier world?

And if the answer is - government and insurance companies - aka we are victims just like patients, then I will continue to be VERY sad that our smart/creative/intelligent folks of Indiana are just as - apathetic - as the rest of the country.

And gee Steve, I don't want to be sad.

[Kristina Frazier-Henry]

Using your example, when a person is obese and has other complications (for example - let's use something common like - diabetes and mobility issues) - where can the everyday hoosier go to get a holistic view on how to improve themselves (without harming themselves further)? How do they know which vitamins, herbal alternatives, etc...that they could take which would help/hurt them?

I don't think we can say - well - cut down on the whoppers, walk 30 minutes a day - and everything will be great for you (and I know that's not what you're saying).

In this case - this person (according to "today's" way of doing things) - they would need an endocronologist, a physical/occupational therapist, a orthopedic specialist (perhaps), trainer/exercise facilitator (?), and a dietician.

They should also have a therapist because if they are obese and want to go through a major lifestyle change, it just doesn't happen without healing what's going on on the inside.

So assuming that someone wanted to do this - and let's say that they even were going to pay for it 100% out of their pocket...where would they go? By my count, they would be going to a dozen facilities - all of which would probably be spaced out by weeks of delay - no coordination, etc...

Try working - contributing in any way to society - when you're entire life is on specialists schedules.

SO that's why I'm curious why there isn't something - some GROUP of professionals who come together and address a situation like this. As you stated - we're a state with lots of obese people. How do we get the attention of the right people to start making a difference? And who are the right people? Are they current medical professionals? Or are they entreprenurial types who put this kind of group together, keeping in mind the bigger picture?

I dunno. But the more you answer my questions, the more thoughts I have :).

[Matt Theobald]

The RAMP group is planning to work with artists to not only celebrate the revitalization of the City but to raise awareness against stigma in mental illness and homelessness. There should be an early article talking about which groups want to see the event happen in the Indianpolis Business Journal. The creative class has a LOT to offer for problem solving and messages to different audiences with progressive programs.

[Douglas Karr]

I think Americans like to believe - and are even taught to believe - that we have the best of everything. We hear stories of people dying while waiting for healthcare in other countries - but the truth is that we have that here as well.

I lived in Canada for 6 years and had my left knee reconstructed. The operations were done by one of the best surgeons in Canada, not because I 'paid' for it, but because it was warranted given how I damaged it. I had arthroscopic surgery when it hadn't even gone mainstream in the United States yet.

One of the things that we don't talk about in the United States is how the lack of national healthcare is actually hurting our economy. We have people in terrible jobs who are trapped because they can't risk losing their coverage. I love being an American and living here but I'm jealous at the 'freedom' that my Canadian friends have when it comes to leaving jobs or starting their own business.

This is just my perspective - one that isn't often discussed. I do respect others' opinions of healthcare as a business. I just don't see the logic in it. We already pay skyrocketing prices for people who can't afford it. I'd like to see insurance for all - not necessarily government-run, but at least we should all be able to acquire healthcare for the same prices, regardless of how our company pays for it.

Regards,
Doug

[Kristina Frazier-Henry]

Doug - I do think that you are on to something re: We already pay skyrocketing prices for people who can't afford it. I'd like to see insurance for all - not necessarily government-run, but at least we should all be able to acquire healthcare for the same prices, regardless of how our company pays for it.

I'll sleep on this one and reply more in the morning....

[John R.(Dick) Troll]

Doug;
I fully agree with you. And the good news is that we are heading for universal health care. Most likely run by the govenment.

And you know what? The statue of liberty won't sink into New York harbor.
In fact, it may very well be cheaper than the distorted, illogical system we have now. We already pay a larger share of our GDP for health care than any other advanced country and our system is middle of the pack by most measures.
Here's an original idea. Why don't we take the best of what Canada, the UK, France, Germany, and ?????? use to deliver health care and incorporate those best ideas into our universal health care system.

Instead of getting trapped by mindless terms like self-reliance or socialism let's acknowlege the obvious: univeral health care is a right for all in our society. Figure out how to deliver it in the most cost effective manner- using the experience of others as a guide-and then we can get about the business of strengthening our eonomy and creating a society based on investment rather than consumption.

[Kirk Booher]

Our government is way too BIG and Expensive already. The last thing most Americans need is Government ran healthcare. Reforms yes. Innovation yes. If it there is a better way, we'll figure it out. That is what Americans do best. Maybe you are on to something?

The bottom line is that It isn't someone else's responsibilty to take of me or you; short of family and friends.

[Kristina Frazier-Henry]

I agree - government is already way too big and expensive. That's why I can't believe smart/creative people haven't figured out how to provide a series of services that are desperately needed.

[Tom Jennings]

I don't know what the answer is for solving our nation's healthcare problems,. I do think there are too many people who rely on the government to solve there problems. I believe it comes down to the individual taking responsibility and taking care of themselves. That is a simplistic view but essentially we are all responsible for our own health. I don't think there is a system that will work for everybody but maybe a combination of systems. For people who have life-threatning illnesses there needs to be a system that does not bankrupt people. For those who use emergency rooms for colds there needs to be a pay as you use. It
is a complicated system that will take innovation and creativity to solve.

[Erik Deckers]

i've just started reading Michael Lewis' "The New New Thing," a story about Jim Clark, the founder of Silicon Graphics and Netscape. His idea -- at least where I left off -- is a way to streamline healthcare by making our health records available to doctors online.

I had to quit reading once he had this epiphany, and since the book was written in 2001, I have no idea what ever happened with this idea. (And don't anyone tell me, because I want to find out on my own!).

When I was at the State Health Department, they were working with the Regenstrief institute on a way to standardize the way hospitals recorded patient information. Right now, each hospital or hospital chain records that information differently, so the idea of electronic records transfer is about as doable as switching our economy from the American dollar to the Danish Kroner. Very honestly, this could be one of the biggest hurdles in overcoming the gaps Kristina has identified.

[Charles Shinaver]

I can't give an answer as to how to overhaul of the heal care system. I am a psychologist-coach.

If you were on the other end of dealing with insurance payments you would want out. When you run a private practice and spend most of your resources on attempting to get payment it is not much of a business. As a matter of fact I have seen many mental health providers sapped of their passion to help by getting bogged down in dealing with health care companies.

Separately, but related is prevention. I actually have a good friend who is a personal trainer and he and I started a social network on Ning just a week or so ago. We are focusing discussions on various health related topics. The name of the social network is yourexcellentlife. Check it out and join if you are interested. We could start a discussion on a topic like this.

Anyway, I am getting to know other health care providers, but as yet I do not have a network or even a networking group, only an informal network, kinda. I do wonder if, over time, that we could become more formalized and provide more of this oversight care you suggest. From my point of view it would be voluntary. We would have to start it ourselves. And, I think this would not meet the needs of many of the people you are trying to help, because I would not want to involve insurance companies.

That is all I have for now.
Charles Shinaver, Ph.D.

Thanks

[Kristina Frazier-Henry]

Hi Charles,

Just recently, I have found a handful of medical professionals who have completely cut the insurance complication - out of the equation - and they are flourishing quite well! I'm going to send you a private message with some of the names of some awesomely decent mental health providers that I know personally or am aware of - heck - maybe I'll get them to join here.