At this point, we must look ahead…
And pick up the fragments of broken trust in local and national health care systems so that we may restore what works, casting off what is unworthy of restoration.
Trust. The Truth. Connected. Inseparable.
Human health is in the balance.
Sound Medicine involves not only the drugs we place inside of our bodies–medicines —and trusting in their integrity—-but also the devices we use and each of our interactions with the medical teams that recommend them. The hospitals that save our lives. The therapists that become our coaches.
In so many ways, we need to “go back to basics” to re-establish fragile trust between patient and doctor, the pharmaceutical and device companies, and the regulators that are supposed to assure our safety and wellbeing.
Since 2012 and even before, so much of what is done in medicine is based on protocol or algorithm, with little concern given to the needs and wants of the human at the center of the process. “Evidence Based Medicine”, at least in theory. But what if the evidence is not sound?
Our Perspective
Finding Common Values
In any social endeavor, before we can agree to anything and build interpersonal trust, we must examine whether or not we value the same things. There is no place where this is more evident than in health care.
What do we agree on?
If we can’t agree, is it possible that a single system does not fit every person? We should be able to choose.
Identify Strategies & Develop Priorities
Once we recognize that elements in our health care system fall short of our shared values, we must identify ways to make improvements, starting with the most important things first.
Implement Change
While moving people into a health care system that better addresses their unique needs and aligns with their values, we must make incremental changes first to get to the ideal result.
By starting with the highest impact things first, (e.g., healthy children, fixing critical drug supply challenges), we see meaningful results more quickly.
