Story of the Week | September 18, 2007

Sicko and Our Problem with Disorganization

Could the state of our closets teach us something about health care?

By now you have probably seen Michael Moore's film "Sicko" -- either that or you made the conscious decision not to see it. Moore's film polarized a lot of people, but I think it raises many questions worth thinking about. Not the least of which is: Why is our health care system so horribly disorganized? There's really no excuse -- especially if you consider Americans' apparent obsession with becoming more organized. Watch the video version of this week's program (just click on the video image embedded in this post) or read the transcript to find out the lesson that may be lurking in our closets. And, as always, tell me how you feel about the issue.

Transcript

Read the full transcript of this story.

Related Websites


	SICKO: The Movie
	The Official Movie Web Site
	http://www.sicko-themovie.com

	AARP Bulletin
	'Sicko' Diagnoses Ills of U.S. Health System
	http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/yourlife/sicko.html

by Health Commentary

Comments

September 24, 2007

Is there a politician willing to reduce the complexity in healthcare?

Our politicians are afraid to make changes that may disappoint those with the greatest privileges.

I've long been dissatisfied with the healthcare system in the US. My husband and I are self-employed and thankfully we can still afford insurance but after seeing Sicko, I was very worried. One of our children has a chronic kidney condition and may some day face renal failure and all the medical treatment that entails. I can only hope that we'll continue to be able to afford insurance and that we won't be bumped out of a good plan.

I recently heard a representative from Clinton's campaign talking about her healthcare position on NPR. I was interested to hear "what Hillary has learned" since working on a universal plan in her husband's administration. The answer caused me to shudder. The spokesperson stated that Hillary has learned that no one should have to change the way they're currently receiving healthcare coverage. If you like what you have, don't worry, you can keep it.

This sounds like a typical, uncreative approach from a politician that wants everyone's short term approval to the detriment of a larger goal. I feel there are two problems to this approach. First, it will add complexity to a system that, as you point out, is completely disorganized. Second, it will do nothing to keep medical costs in check. They'll continue to soar.

Such a program caters to the "me" mentality. We need leaders that are bold enough to ask the American people for a little bit of sacrifice. If we don't step up as a nation and cut down on our consumerism and "every man for himself" mentality, our nation will suffer greatly. I believe Americans are ready and willing to give up a little for the benefit of all. How do we convince the nation's politicians to lead the way?

by Carol Seidl

September 25, 2007

that is the question!

Carol is not alone.

Carol is right, and Carol is not alone. Since Sen. Clinton's speech on health care this past week, I've spoken to several people who have voiced the same concern. While it's quite understandable, after the experience in '94, that she is careful not to go too far, many since then have come to the understanding that the greater risk today, some 13 years later, is not going far enough. This is especially true is we are serious about establishing an equitable, and truely preventive health care system. If so, we will need to leverage new information tecghnology, re-center the system around healthy homes, fully engage communities, and move away from intervention and toward information and 100-year-long (at least) lifespan planning records. Those are big ideas, and anything but incremental. What it comes down to is leadership, vision, and courage to change.

by mike magee