Market-driven medicine

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By Donald E. Stevens
Special to The Times

Carol Ostrom's article "A dilemma for doctors: Who'll get flu vaccine?" (page one, Nov. 23) concerning distribution of available flu vaccine was both timely (I am asking the same questions as to which of 1,000 patients will get the 80 doses of vaccine made available to my practice) and insightful.

While helpful, neither a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention medical-ethicist consensus recommendation or evidence-based medicine algorithms can supplant a physician's judgment and knowledge of his or her patients when it comes to this type of decision.

More important, the article prompts a larger question: How do we address supply and demand in health care? The current shortage of influenza vaccine has, in fact, created a real-time experiment in which both institutions and providers are placed in the position of rationing a health-care resource. Fortunately, by spring, flu season will be behind us, and the "crisis" will be over.

The greater crisis awaits this country as we deal with an increasing demand for a resource that is economically difficult to access for both individuals and employers. I hope in my professional life the inherent waste in health-care delivery, including bloated administrative costs and the antiquated information systems we have relied on, are relegated to the dust bin.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002108746_satrdr04.html

[rodeodance]

1. refrain of the story is to take personal responsibility for your health!

All well and fine--but with hybrid food--and an increasing polluted enviroment --jet fuel in our lettuce and milk, mercury in our fish, etc etc--this refrain loses its punch!!

.....Most important, take personal responsibility for your own health. In large part, health is the sum of choices we make individually.....