I caught a bit of Michael Moore’s film “Sicko” on cable the other day and hope to watch all of it this weekend. The film compares the healthcare delivery system here in the US to more socialized programs in place in other countries such as Canada and Great Britain. Moore definitely has his own agenda with the film, most people in this debate do, but it is interesting to get a look inside healthcare systems.

As a sales rep who speaks to folks in many different specialties of healthcare, I have found many different reactions to the current economy. I have heard that many patients have been electing to put off elective procedures as well as regular dental care in the interest of saving money. I have also heard that traffic at some ERs is up do to the fact that patients who have lost their health insurance are seeking treatment where they know they will not be turned away. I hear that many practices are operating with an increased eye on efficiency and cost-savings. Any thoughts on your experiences?

Don’t forget the DMGMA BRUNCH meeting on Wednesday, Feb 18th at 10:00 (Christiana Hilton of Course!). It’s the annual technology program and the presenters are from Expert Technology Associates. Hope to see you there!

Any how, I thought that the appointment of former South Dakota Senator,Tom Daschle, by President Elect Barack Obama as Health and Human Services Secretary and especially as Health Reform Czar deserved a mention here.

This certainly is not the first presidential attempt to address issues in America’s healthcare system, however some feel that the effort could not be more timely. Needless to say, there is a lot of stake for many in Delaware’s healthcare community. Not only do we face unknown changes in the quality of healthcare receive as consumers, we face potential momentous changes in our careers. What new responsibilities and requirements an restrictions are to come?

Daschle’s recent book, Critical: What Can We Do for the Health-Care Crisis?, may provide some insight on things to come.  Some feel that he favors a single-payer approach as used in many other industrialized nations. This, according to many critics, is paramount to practicing socialized medicine.  This certainly can open up major flood gates of debate, and perhaps it is time to get the discussion started.  Is real reform coming? Is it best to throw out what we have and start over, or is there some middle-ground that works?  Please register and post your thoughts!