The majority of people alive today will be or have been, diagnosed with a grave illness at some point in their life.
There are a few fortunate souls who will skate through life relatively unscathed, live carefree (at least from the health perspective) until they succumb to an injury or a sudden illness. For the rest of us, illnesses, treatments, hospitalizations, rehabilitation, varying degrees of loss of ability and function, and a progressive decline before death will be part of our experience of life.
I don’t want to be a downer, but I do want to help you. That’s why I started this blog. I’m a doctor with decades of experience in traditional medicine. I know the ins and outs of the business, and I know why healthcare is failing: the gaps.
Most people prefer not to think about health issues until they are forced to. Most people believe that when trouble strikes, they’ll be prepared and that “the system” will support them and make sure their needs are met.
Unfortunately, most people are wrong in this belief.
After 26 years as a physician caring for people of all ages with all kinds of illnesses and injuries, I can assure you that our system has many gaping holes that dramatically add to the stress and struggle of patients and families dealing with serious illnesses.‘My blog posts might not be the light reading you’re likely to find on the Web, but someone has to tell it to you straight. And, in this case, from an insider’s perspective. Most doctors won’t share with their patients the details about what’s really going wrong with the healthcare industry. This is partly because doctors are so overworked they barely have time to take a break between patient visits, let alone have any lengthy conversation with their patients.
So, here on my blog, I’ll bring you the news you need to know to live well and understand how the healthcare industry works so that if something should go wrong, you’re aware, educated, and prepared to make decisions that could impact you and your family for the rest of your life.
Illness is the great equalizer.
Regardless of how intelligent you are, how successful you’ve been, how much good you’ve done or how much money you have, our healthcare system treats you all the same. “The system” does not place nearly enough emphasis on providing the support, guidance, and responsiveness that you need and deserve when you, or your loved ones, are dealing with a severe or terminal illness.
Profit drives “the system”.
Sadly, the desire to provide truly compassionate and person-centered care is often completely neglected, which is the root of the problem.
“The system” is unlikely to provide the solutions. So what can you do when you find yourself or a loved one ill?
I can help. And I will do my best to be a resource for you here on these pages of my website.
Being ill is stressful and scary. It’s stressful and scary for the patient, and equally for the family members who are trying to provide appropriate guidance and support. Navigating the complex healthcare system adds tremendous stress and frustration that can make it almost unbearable. The challenges and gaps in our healthcare system contribute significantly to the fear of being ill and often result in more anxiety, struggle, and poor quality of life than the illness itself.
That’s why part of my mission in life is to educate people about these gaps and challenges so that their impact can be minimized or avoided altogether. And, I’ll be doing that here for you.
My hope is that you’ll read my blog each week and you will become aware of the gaps. By arming yourself with knowledge about what to watch out for and how to navigate the healthcare world, you will be able to alleviate an enormous amount of fear, anxiety, and struggle. And, some of what you learn here may also save lives, or in some cases, help to end a life for a terminally ill patient who is desperately seeking a way out. I’ll share those personal stories and experiences so you can learn and make decisions about what’s best for you and your loved ones.
In future posts, I will also be sharing insights about where the greatest gaps and challenges exist in our system. I will share stories that highlight the issues and offer suggestions about how you can protect yourself, or your loved ones, from falling through the cracks or tumbling down the abyss.
As an introduction, these are the issues I will be focusing on:
- Initial diagnosis and treatment of an illness
- Hospitalizations
- Rehabilitation and nursing homes
- Transitioning from hospitals or nursing facilities
- Loss of function and/or independence
- Curative care versus comfort-focused care
- End-of-life issues
My goal is to provide awareness and education that prevents unnecessary struggle and empowers people to ask the right questions and make the best decisions, in all circumstances.
Think of this as an ongoing conversation that you’ll never get to have with your doctor.
On my Website and in my Facebook community, you’ll have a chance to read and learn but also to comment and ask your questions both here and on my Facebook page where I encourage people to share their stories, and I answer questions from my community. Please “like” my page and join the discussion, here.
I look forward to hearing from you and learning about what concerns and challenges you have. Unlike the healthcare industry, I can promise you; your voice will be heard in this space.
So, please reach out. Join our community on Facebook. Comment on my blog posts and let me know how I can serve you.
I don’t have all the answers, but I do have a wealth of insider knowledge and a strong desire to make a positive difference in the lives of people dealing with the challenges of illness, aging and dying.