| A recent Gallup study among 462 doctors revealed | | | | patient safety advocates at CampaignZERO, here's |
| that a whopping 26% of our healthcare costs cover | | | | our take on the connection... |
| "defensive medicine." | | | | ... When doctors feel defensive, they don't have the |
| If you're not familiar with this term, think about the times | | | | luxury to feel introspective too. It's a common-sense |
| your doctor has ordered a test for you that seems a | | | | fact that the two emotions simply don't coexist |
| little on the "iffy" side - you're not quite sure what the | | | | peacefully in a single caring soul. |
| heck the test is for, or you've been through it before, | | | | ... If doctors can't be introspective, they can't get to |
| and it seems like a big waste of time to you. But you | | | | "sorry" when they make an error (as all humans do |
| dutifully follow doctor's orders because, after all, | | | | sometimes - despite very best efforts and intentions.) |
| insurance is paying for it anyway. | | | | ... If doctors can't get to sorry, they can't learn from |
| On the other hand, maybe you've insisted on a test | | | | their mistakes. They can't become better doctors and |
| that gave your doctor cause for pause. You didn't | | | | better human beings. |
| want to go to the effort of getting a second opinion, | | | | So, while money and cost should be a concern for all |
| so you insisted until your doctor relented, and then off | | | | of us, we should care just as much about the |
| you went... for a CAT scan, MRI, stress test, or blood | | | | caretaker -- who will then do a better job of taking |
| work. | | | | care of us. |
| In these scenarios, the undercurrent driving tests and | | | | Let's break the vicious circle of defensive medicine. |
| procedures is fear - fear in your doctor's heart that if | | | | Let's start building a caring circle of better, safer |
| any possible stone is left unturned, that you, dear | | | | medicine. |
| patient, will see your doctor in malpractice court. | | | | Copyright@2010, Karen Aydt Curtiss, All rights |
| So what does the practice of "defensive medicine" | | | | reserved. |
| have to do with the practice of safe medicine? As | | | | |