In the era of discussing Healthcare Reform, we should consider patient rights and responsibilities in an attempt to define the problems and suggest fixes. I found a pretty good list at About.com (The Wise Patient's Guide to Rights and Responsibilities
By Trisha Torrey, About.com Updated: February 19, 2009. ) Trisha's lists are, I think, a good starting point for most discussions. Hre is the basic list:

" Consider these Patients' Rights
•The Right to Be Treated with Respect
•The Right to Make a Treatment Choice
•The Right to Refuse Treatment
•The Right to Obtain Your Medical Records
•The Right to Privacy of Your Medical Records
•The Right to Informed Consent
•The Right to Make Decisions About End-of-Life Care

The entitlement of patients' rights for Americans is accompanied by patients' responsibilities, too. In order to get the best care, and find our most successful medical outcomes, we must adhere to these responsibilities.

Consider these Patients' Responsibilities
•Maintaining Healthy Habits
•Being Respectful to Providers
•Being Honest With Providers
•Complying with Treatment Plans
•Preparing for Emergencies
•Reading Behind the Headlines
•Making Decisions Responsibly
•Understanding Prescription Drugs and Their Possible Effects
•Meeting Financial Obligations
•Reporting Fraud and Wrongdoing
•Avoiding Putting Others at Risk"

I recommend thinking about each of these points. Discuss them with the people around you. Both lists are critical in order to consider various fixes to hour system.

Sign Up Today and begin to use you Hometown Family Physician service online at any time. No longer do you have to wait for our phones, no longer take time from your busy day. See us online and save time and money. Begin an office visit, request a prescription refill, ask a question or pay a bill...anytime of day; anywhere you are.

1. Go to CallFHC.com.
2. Click on the "Chart" icon. (or click on "related link" below)
3. Create an account
4. Now you have access to all our services.

We will respond to refill requests or office visits within one business day. We will be able to respond to appointment requests within less than a day. (Phoned-in or pharmacy-faxed refill requests will take up to a week.)

I will continue blog about our changes so check back here often.

Wednesday July 1st you will be able to acdcess our services online at CallFHC.com. Patients of Family Health Center can sign in to get Health Information, Online (virtual) office visits, request medication refills, get lab test results and pay bills. You may login in anytime of day from anywhere in the world.

On July 1st go to CallFHC.com and sign up. Tell your friends about the great services from your Online Hometown Family Physician at CallFHC.com .

At Family Health Center, I am trying to remove insurance and lower the cost. The " Cash Pay - Your Way ", system reduces cost to you (substantially). Should you choose to use the Cash Pay - Your Way , we do not file with insurance and save you the cost. This way we do not penalize those without insurance. We can reduce costs for you if you choose not to use insurance or chose to do your own insurance paperwork.

Check it out at CallFHC.com . Click on Cash Pay - Your Way

Today, back to trying to define the problem. Last time, I looked at whether the quality of care was substandard. I think we have good quality of care. Please do not mis-understand, there are always problems, however, the quality of care is not the "crisis" in health in this country. The cost of care is a problem. Everything associated with medical care is too expensive. The cost to the patient is too high. Medical supplies are too expensive. Medical training is too expensive. Litigation adds a layer of cost to the system. Insurance adds a layer of cost to the system.

Today, I would like to touch on Insurance and managed care. Prior to the 1970's there was not "Managed Care". The patient used to manage their own care. They made decisions about how their money should be spent. After the federal "Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973", the decision making and the power in medical care has shifted further and further away from the patient. In both subtle and overt ways, the payor (Insurance or the Government), determines what is available as options and when those options may be used.

A pretty good starting point is the following article by "Blarney in Politics". " What's really wrong with the United States medical system? "


So when considering other legislative options, please advocate solutions that give more control over to the patient. This will result in better care and lower cost.

In my next blog, I will try to discuss the need for meaningful Tort (suit) reform as a cost reduction.