How the Minneapolis Bridge Tragedy Mirrors a Potential Disaster for Healthcare
Friday, August 17th, 2007It is a miracle that more lives were not lost during a time when the traffic load on the bridge was so heavy. Yet each death is devastating to the families involved. Hopefully, this regional catastrophe can galvanize the nation toward a far better understanding of defects within our infrastructure.
There are lessons that can and must be learned through tragic events such as this one. Lessons that reach far beyond Minneapolis and bridge construction to the multitude of people currently working in healthcare. The collapse of this bridge can also provide new insight into much needed healthcare change.
Repairs were being made on the roadway and on other easily visible aspects of that bridge. The sudden fall, however, was due to known and existing infrastructure defects. Likewise, surface repairs continue to be made in healthcare. But uncontrollable cost increases and lack of access for far too many are deep defects within our present healthcare system. Repairs are accepted as an absolute necessity that requires immediate attention.
Yet no consideration is being given to the present, still unrecognized problems within our current healthcare system. Googling “Defensive Medicine” brings up a lot of documentation on what is argued as one, if not the, major cause of constantly increasing costs. However, no in-depth discussion takes place regarding how the practice of medicine is regulated in America and who does the regulating.
The vast majority of doctors treating patients practice within the private sector, which is presumed to be regulated by the fifty states and the District of Columbia. Congress, through Medicare and followed by Medicaid, has blurred the lines of regulating the practice of medicine.
The practice of medicine is the least regulated economic activity in America.
Until the organizational infrastructure of medical practice is fully understood and clarified for all, a Minneapolis-type disaster will be waiting in the wings and may very well topple our healthcare system in the same way.