Jefferson Independance Card

In this age of data, how do we measure a smile?

My work as a family doctor is judged by my numbers. Everything must be numbered. Each mammogram, colonoscopy, and A1c is sliced, diced, and numbered. Even your disease has a number.

“I’d care for you, if I had the time. But I’ve got these boxes to check.”

I’m a brilliant physician. I know that’s true because your insurance company tells me that all my boxes are checked.

They make it easy to be brilliant. All these forms show me right where to put your numbers. They even tell me what your number should be.

The more numbers I use, the more I get paid.
And watch this magic:
If I signed a form, moved my numbers to a hospital group, I’d get paid double!
Same doctor, different group, suddenly smarter! Rich and brilliant.

By the way, I chose not to join a hospital group. I’m an independent physician.

But I’m confused about the smile.
I took a little longer with you, interested in your life, and I saw you smile.
You are happier, healthier.
I don’t know how to charge for that?

Could it be that there is more to healthcare than numbers?

“We saw how easy it was to take physician’s money, and no one stopped us,” said the proud health insurance executive.

“So we applied those same methods to the employers, and wow, look, no one stopped us.” Smiles and handshakes.

“This year, we even took a whole bunch of government money, and guess what... no one stopped us.” Applause.
“We are healthcare geniuses.”

Businesses are closing, physicians are leaving, and fewer Americans than ever can afford health insurance.
But look who has record profits.

If you are listening, America, your family doctor is trying to tell you something.
Look at the signs.
You’re getting ripped off.

Have you noticed how hard it is to find a family physician?
See all the marketing of physician replacements?
These are signs that something is wrong.

Our healthcare system is sick.
You can see it in the way P*Ps are treated. That’s why P*Ps are disappearing.
Losing doctors is a symptom.
Our loss hurts you. That’s a disease.
Then it hurts America. That’s a pandemic.
Pandemic of sick healthcare.

The cure for sick healthcare begins by saving your P*P.
Don’t get tricked.
There is no replacement.