NEWS ALERT!

According to a Harris Poll published in Time Magazine more that 70% of Americans feel failed by the healthcare system.

Let’s be clear, this doesn’t all fall on the doctors. Some of it falls on the consumers for lack of adherence, ignoring their health, and unrealistic expectations.

But, if you’ve had the opportunity to go to a doctor lately there’s a great chance it was less than a confidence boosting experience. The medical profession can list a bunch of reasons why but the bottom line is that the professionals with whom we trust our health, are failing.

We’re not talking about the failures of how the system deals with health here. This is about your experience once you enter into that system and the chances for success.

Who works for Whom?

The medical system is rigged with doctors positioned as the ultimate arbiters of our health. What most people fail to realize is that doctors work for you. They don’t get paid unless they see patients.

Perhaps it’s time to demand a bit more for the high fees you pay for insurance, deductibles, and copays.

CRITICAL SIGN #1: YOU DON’T EVEN SEE THE DOCTOR! YOU SEE A PA (Physician’s Assistant), RN (Nurse) or NP (Nurse Practitioner)

I don’t have anything against PAs, RNs, or NPs but let’s be real. According to a study in the British Medical Journal approximately 795,000 people in the US die or are seriously harmed by misdiagnosis. I don’t know about you but if MDs spend 6 or more years in intensive training and still make significant errors, how are we to trust the clinical acumen of mid-level practitioners like Physician Assistants, Nurses, and Nurse Practitioners?

When I’m looking for a traditional medical practitioner I not only want an MD but I want a highly trained, sharp, up-to-date Medical Physician. I’d prefer someone who attended a top medical school and did their residency at a top program.

These are no guarantees but it’s certainly a better bet than someone who attended a low tier US or foreign medical school.

CRITICAL SIGN #2: YOUR DOCTOR (OR PA, RN, NP) DOESN’T SPEND MORE THAN 10 MINUTES WITH YOU AND RARELY LOOKS UP FROM THEIR COMPUTER.

It’s been said and even research indicates that 80% of diagnoses can be accurately made from a detailed history. In order for a physician to help you whether the history provides the diagnosis or you need additional testing, they need to spend sufficient time actually asking you detailed questions about what is going on, what it feels like, your lifestyle, any changes, etc.

Here’s an example from my practice recently. A woman came in with “hip pain”. She had been to her primary care and was referred to an orthopedic physician. Both doctors limited the testing to x-rays of the hip. On my exam I found weakness in a couple of muscles of her leg that are not related to the hip joint. This has to do with nerves from the low back and pelvis.

CRITICAL SIGN #3: LIMITED TO NO EXAMINATION OR TESTING

How many times have you been to your doctor and they never even examined you? Or, they listened to your chest and heart and then pulled out their prescription pad and wrote a prescription for a medication?

The effectiveness of any treatment is dependent on the accuracy of the diagnosis. Too often these days doctors seem rushed and do not have the time to slow down and actually evaluate in depth what is going on, what might be causing it, and why all this is happening.

I get it. Doctors have to see more people and spend less time with them to make ends meet. But, that’s no excuse why your healthcare should suffer. You should expect and demand the best.

BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE

You must be your own advocate. If you aren’t 100% confident in your healthcare providers it might not think it’s a big deal right now. But, if you encounter a serious health challenge or crisis you want the best of the best in your corner.

About Dr. Berkowitz of Life Chiropractic:

Bringing more than 3 decades of practice experience, Dr. Bill Berkowitz focuses on balancing and corrective care, applying his expertise to provide patients with predictable, repeatable and measurable results.

Dr. Bill consistently strives to enhance the well-being of his patients by addressing the root imbalances of their problems and promoting optimal balance, alignment, and function of the spine and nervous system.

Bill’s wealth of knowledge and experience has allowed him to develop a nuanced understanding of the human body and its intricate connections. With each adjustment, he supports the body in returning to a state of balance that goes beyond mere symptom relief, focusing instead on long-term correction for his patients’ well-being.

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