Resources To Stay Informed
Dreaming of Collaborative Health Care Reform, October, 2009
When we started Collaboration Health Care, Inc. three years ago we began with a passion and vision to see if we could help the health care system innovate and create new ideas to improve health care in this country. We started by creating our own “vision” of what a system would look like if we broke down the many silos of self-interest that exist today. Our 20 Principles of a Collaborative Health Care System has gone through some modifications over the years, but overall, the structure we envisioned back then is even more applicable today.
In March, 2009 our country started the whole “health care reform debate”. It started with all the appropriate stakeholders at the table singing Kumbaya together. Everyone agreed that something needed (and needs) to happen to change the trajectory we’re on today. The Kumbaya feeling lasted only a short time before things changed. Since then, we’ve had the Town Halls, “You Lie”, Public Option, Death Panels, Pulling the Plug on Grandma, and all of the other memorable events leading us to where we are today. The real emotions of our country come out whenever we talk about health care. Unfortunately, scare-tactics work because most people simply don’t understand how it works. Our country has been talking about health care for over 100 years and it’s always been this way. But, we really need to do something this time. We simply cannot afford the path we’re on.
The health care debate continues to move forward and, quite honestly, we’re tired and frustrated with where it’s led. We understand that reforming 18% of our economy is a significant deal- but, come on, let’s at least focus on the right things and let’s do it right for our country. It’s time to be honest with each other.
So, this month we decided to put our own (semi-serious) vision of another health care reform scenario out there for you to think about. With less than 30% of the population approving of Congress’s performance to-date we figured we couldn’t do much worse. - And it’s fun to dream sometimes.
