The Equity of Trust- How American healthcare is FAILING

So what's the deal with TRUST

If you are unsure what the title of this blog means, I will explain. But, rest-assured it is a critical point that we all need to understand and face head-on. In recent blog post by Seth Godin, he points to several steps that we all take before we "Trust a new Idea." I generally agree with the points he uses:

1. Who are you?

2. Do I trust you?

3. Am I afraid of it?

4. Will this work for me?

5. Who says it's important?

6. What will my peers think?

And, in the end he boils it down to how will this process make me feel?

Trust is a very important thing! We make decisions everyday based on trust- whether it is a new idea or when we make choices as consumers. When we shop for groceries, vehicles, cellphone service- we choose products and brands based on trust. We have choices- Wal-Mart or Target; Lowes or Menards; Verizon or AT&T. We want to trust we will be treated well and our needs met. Price can sometimes limit certain options- I trust brands like Rolex and Mercedes, but prices keep me out of their market. Their reputation precedes them- trust is there. Trust is critical when making decisions about healthcare as well. The following quote that often comes to mind:

"People don't care what you know, until they know that you care."

Two recent developments from medicine show how we are being duped by our medical profession as a whole- making it difficult to TRUST the people we all grew up trusting most- DOCTORS!

Strike 1

Apparently, in CA, Medical Corporations are involved in what appears to be backroom politics in an effort to strong-arm independent physical therapists out (Read- if PT's aren't practicing in a clinic owned either directly or indirectly by medical doctors, which benefits medical corporations financially, they are trying to make it very difficult for them to practice). No one trusts someone that makes a deal and then goes behind your back in an attempt to weasel you out. 

Strike 2

How would you feel about paying $10 today for something that only cost $5 yesterday? Probably not great. When we're talking about a trip to the doctor's office, things usually cost 10-100 times as much- so how would you feel about doubling the price then? Well, a recent report in the Wall Street Journal reveals that in medicine that is exactly what is happening- when your doctor works for the hospital. 

Impact

This doesn't mean you can no longer trust your doctor. It simply points to the fact that while healthcare is changing, trust is still a big part of our decision-making process. We should be able to trust healthcare professionals. When we don't trust them, we are less likely to follow their advice. Medical Corporations are undermining our trust, which makes physicians' jobs more difficult- and negatively influences ALL healthcare.

Whom do you trust?

We all have our favorites- Chevy or Ford; John Deere or Case IH. If you haven't thought about it before, think about what and whom you trust.

Tell us what you think- comment below!