Like the song, paraphrased, "The Gambler," you gotta know when to walk, when to exercise, how to handle stress, diet, and so forth.  In heart failure, for example, the knowledgeable patient, does better.

From my perspective (a 30-year veteran physician executive), the syllogistic logic of these issues ought to be inescapable -- to help the patient, health care quality must be maintained if not improved (outcome measurement and monitoring is critical) and cost must be decreased at the same time through efficiency, discretion, and giving patients what they need (ie, better value for health care). 

Republished with permission from Aetna's InteliHealth©

Is U.S. Healthcare More About Money Than a Calling to Help Others?

Does the GOP Have a Health Plan?

"If Reform Fails", a recent NY Times editorial, states that the status quo is immoral, impractical and unsustainable. What can we expect now that the House approved "Health Overhaul, Sending Landmark Bill to Obama"?  No proposition I have seen identifies, in a practical way what does or does not work for patients and those practicing on the front lines of medicine.