Citizens as Patients
Dr. Robert Cater is an internist practicing in Indianapolis, IN. Dr. Cater specializes in the medical treatment of adults. Internists can act as a primary physician or a consultant to a primary physician. They manage both common and rare diseases. Dr. Cater provides comprehensive care and manages treatment with surgeons... more
As we approach 2023, we are seeing a shift in the way healthcare is administered. With the advances in medical technology and treatment options, it is becoming increasingly important to focus on preventative care rather than reactive care. As a healthcare professional with 40 years of experience, I have seen the transformation of the industry from personalized care in private offices to group and HMO settings.
There have been incredible innovations in the provision of care, such as organ transplants, antivirals, and balloon angioplasty, just to name a few. The survival rates for diseases such as cancer have improved dramatically, and conditions like diabetes and hypertension are now almost always treatable thanks to superior medications and tests.
Despite these advancements, it is imperative that we focus on communication between patients and healthcare providers more than ever before. One of the key challenges we face is finding ways to enroll citizens who are not ill in medical care so that they can take advantage of preventative programs. In the same way we protect children around the world with wellness exams and vaccinations, we must also develop wellness programs to evaluate citizens throughout their lives before they become unwell.
Wellness assessments should be performed periodically at schools, work, and even churches so that citizens can access tests and treatments when they can do the most good. By finding heart disease before chest pain, detecting cancer before coughing up blood, and diagnosing diabetes before vision loss and poor circulation occur, we can catch and treat illnesses before they become out of control.
While this may seem daunting, it is a small price to pay for the benefits it would bring. Imagine if mammograms, blood pressure, and blood sugar tests could be scheduled by nurses at work or at a doctor’s office. This would allow more citizens to take advantage of healthcare when it can do the most good.
It is alarming that the US spends more on healthcare than any other country, yet ranks in the middle of the pack in critical areas such as fetal-maternal mortality and life expectancy. Every citizen deserves access to healthcare, regardless of ability to pay. Let’s have the government redistribute the billions spent on healthcare and place caregivers where people are. This might involve placing nurses at schools, workplaces, and unemployment centers or distributing funds to nurse practitioners and physician assistants in drug stores.
In conclusion, as healthcare professionals, it is our duty to promote preventative care and encourage citizens to be proactive about their health. The fundamental things still apply, such as vaccinating to prevent illness and making healthcare accessible and affordable to everyone. With imagination, courage, and a willingness to provide healthcare differently to meet the future, we can ensure that modern medicine remains a wonderful asset for all. Remember to get your mammogram, colon testing, blood pressure, and blood sugar testing regularly, and encourage your loved ones to do the same – it could save a life.
Robert C. Cater, M.D.
