In my last post, I discussed the role to be played by healthcare reform in stimulating the economy. The Health and Human Services Department expects that the health share of GDP will continue its historical upward trend, reaching 19.5% of GDP by 2017. Ultimately, this almighty kerfuffle boils down to C.R.E.A.M. I would like to offer a couple of quick suggestions on how to reign in costs.
Product Placement and Time Management
Some very busy Doctors, take time out of their schedule to talk about “product” with drug reps every working day. The genetic lottery winner pictured above, is actually employed to pimp drugs in medical offices. Cheerleaders are fine at sporting events, but have no place in medicine. We are paying the salaries of these sample closet Hooters girls. Medicines are like no other product. The aim must not be to maximise sales but to ensure that the product is used appropriately.
Learn to Use a Computer
It will also help if you get rid of the fucking paper. Over half of all physicians are still not using electronic medical records. Who would entrust their wellbeing to a person who writes really important shit down on pieces of paper.
“Nurse…bring hither more ink for the quill and another bag of leeches.“
Often, an entire room of a medical practice is dedicated to paper charts. People are still faxing shit in the age of pdf’s and email. Patients are dying and we are footing the bill for these inefficiencies.
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For those unfamiliar with C.R.E.A.M. let this video enlighten you…
