"and most people had FFS insurance with no restrictions. I remember hearing the story of a local Doctor who didn't want to sell his yacht while his new one was under construction. He used to brag that he financed the entire cost of 50' sailboat by,"ordering more EKG's".
And now days, how many people who really should have EKGs are not getting them because the reimbursement does not cover the expense? Which is worse? Which is healthiest for the patient? Which kind of physician would you rather treat you? When the practice of medicine can be practiced by protocol alone medical degrees will no longer be necessary. Take it from an ex-physician's assistant. I treated tons of patients in the 70's by simply running my finger down a standard protocol and doing what it told me to do. I had no idea why I was doing it or what other options there might be but, by God, if it was in the protocol it was right. Then I woke up. I became curious. I wanted to know why I was doing things. I went to medical school and I learned the ART of medicine. With no offense intended, DocMartin, I cannot help but believe your proposed Outcome Oriented Medicine platform will bring the end to the practice of medicine as we know it today. And it will devastate the profession. And, in the end, the people will be no better cared for. The money will simply be shifted to corporate entities rather than to the people actually doing the work. Then all the insurance company stockholders can build their own yachts while the "providers" (whoever they may be) can punch the clock, put on their stethoscopes, manage the assembly line of patients and wait for the afternoon whistle to blow so they can stop down at Kelleys on their way home for a brewski.
Sorry, I am with Paul on this.
Leslie
