Obama’s Goal: A Better America and Better Americans

Mike Magee Then Senator Obama, on the Senate floor in 2005 said, “We need somebody who’s got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it’s like to be a young teenage mom; the empathy to understand what it’s like to be poor, or African American, or gay, or disabled, or old.” (1) He wasn’t talking […]

Could Health Reform Correct America’s “Empathy Deficit”?

On June 22, 2006, then Senator Barack Obama had this to say at Northwestern’s 148th Commencement (1): “There’s a lot of talk in this country about the federal deficit. But I think we should talk more about our empathy deficit — the ability to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes; to see the world through […]

After The Failure Of Reform

Brian Klepper and David C. Kibbee The stalemate in the bi-partisan health care summit was cast the moment it was announced. Republicans demanded that the reform process start anew, and Mr. Obama insisted on the Senate bill as the framework going forward. The President may now offer a more modest reform bill that can demonstrate […]

Be Engaged, not Entertained, by the National Healthcare Debate

Eric Dishman I’ve been sneaking in and out of meetings all day to catch snippets of the President’s “Healthcare Summit” (insert flying graphics and dramatic theme music here!) with Congressional members at Blair House. Colleagues in D.C.—some of them in the actual room—have been sending me texts and emails with juicy one-liners from the wit […]

This Week’s Presidential Healthcare Summit: Is It About Money or Satisfaction?

Mike Magee Today is the Healthcare Summit in Washington. There will be a great deal of discussion about efficiency, effectiveness and holding down the cost of health care. Money and time spent were also the topic of a JAMA article this week focused on declining physician work hours in concert with declining physician reimbursement over […]

Healthcare Reform: We Can’t Wait For Washington

Eric Dishman “Well, I guess you are done blogging since healthcare reform is dead now?” Ouch! This comment came from a friend–from someone who says he actually likes some of my blogs and is eager for healthcare reform to happen. But I can understand his presumptions. The pages of ink spilled on the speculation about […]

Healthcare Reform: Too Big To Fail

Eric Dishman Rumors of the demise of healthcare reform have been greatly exaggerated. After Scott Brown’s upset victory for the Massachusetts Senate seat, the news media and blogosphere are abuzz. Ah, folks, we have ourselves an official media frenzy! Let the hyperbole begin: “The world has changed,” “Everything is different […]

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