Over the last month I've read many blogs and news articles concerning Obama's proposed Health care reform legislation. In all of those articles and blog entries not one proposed an alternative. It's no mystery that some of our citizens fall thru the cracks in our current medical system. In a country that has single-handedly changed the way people on this planet live, eat, communicate, think and work there is simply no reason why this should happen.
I also know that we as a country cannot solve the problems we have using the same mentality that put us in this mess. I speak of course about the gang of 535 plus 1 in Washington D.C. Over and over again we've seen the wasteland that is their meddling in our lives, the trillions wasted or stolen, the bureaucratic in-efficiencies, the cronyism, corporate monies buying votes, you name the graft, they have it mastered... So do we really believe they can reform health care? Emphatically, I say No!
THE PROJECT NAME:
It seems to me doctors while exhibiting plenty of smarts in their chosen profession, lack the essential 21st century skill called entrepreneurialism. Doctors still practice a form of patient care and billing developed in the early 20th century and for what ever reason don't see a need to change. What if a new way, one perfectly suited to the 21st century patient were available? The answer is of course: Anticipated Individual Medical Services (AIMS for our acronym dependent folk in D.C.)
An Alternate name could be TEAMS - Technology Enhanced Anticipated Medical Services
THE PROPOSAL:
I'm proposing that part of a new 21st century model for patient/doctor services be built around the ideal that the patient could pay $1 dollar per day every day for the entire year every year until death. Doesn't seem like much, but it allows the patient to receive that doctors care as many times as needed with no limits during the year. In most cases the doctor is getting paid for doing nothing as I'm certain most patients won't have a need to go in accept for a yearly check up. It's a fair way to make sure both parties are provided for. The doctor is going to have guaranteed income, the patient is going to have guaranteed medical attention. The same system could be used to provide for medicines, but let's save that for another entry.
THE MONEY:
The numbers for the above work out pretty fair too. Consider that for the patient it is indeed only $1 dollar per day. For the doctor that number is multiplied by the number of patients he decides to take on. To illustrate, if the doctor has 1000 patients then he would be making $1000 dollars per day. Not a bad paycheck!
HOW IT WORKS (partial infrastructure):
Doctors could also provide internet medical services for these same patients; reliable and secure patient communications systems could be put in place for the patient to be able to interact with the doctor from home. Each patient would be given a specific login account where-on they could request renewals of prescriptions, triage communication with the physician regarding non-emergency symptoms to determine if an actual visit is needed (can't get any greener than this, let me count the ways this saves!), schedule tests, etc. Consider the whole cottage industry of support services that would crop up from this!
The communications system would have to be either in house or doctors could create patient data management collectives that manage the system with very strict safe-guards in place to protect their patients sensitive data. State governments could and probably would have to mandate how this is regulated but it would not need the interference of the Federal government. What's nice about this is that if the patient moves to another locale, their records could be transferred to the new doctor or patient data management collective.
It also serves the patient in another important way, no pre-existing medical conditions limits. Since this service model doesn't depend on a third party (ie. insurance companies) for the coverage, there would be no reason for doctor to deny the service even in the case of an existing medical condition. Can it get any better? You betcha!
GOING FORWARD:
I'm going to keep thinking, developing and building on this fledgling idea, because I believe that I and others out there are of an intellect far exceeding most of the politicians in congress and the simpleton community organiser we elected as POTUS. I also believe that a capitalist derived system will always prove more sucessful and provide the best buy for the buck (literally in this case!) than any socialist tax-payer funded method.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
- help me build this model out by proposing additions that make the system more complete. Submit ideas via email or the comment system below.
- talk about it with your family, friends and neighbors and ask them to tell their family, friends and neighbors. Email it to everyone on your email list.
- call your elected congresspersons and tell them about an alternative that costs the taxpayer nothing!
We can bring real effective change to our health care system without costing us a dime of taxpayer money, be a part of it!
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AIMS: The Alternative to Obama health care
