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The Business of Health Care Report
Today, I want to discuss the need
for broad-based support for health care reform. First, we know that meaningful health
care reform will require a shared vision. Many past health care efforts failed because of
short-sightedness and a lack of a consensus among consumers, employers, the medical
community and government. Absent a common vision for what a health care system should be,
such reform efforts were doomed from the start. Fortunately, we have the benefit of
hindsight to learn from those attempts and can work together to avoid past obstacles. Second, a growing population demands a
better way of doing things. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates we will add 25 million people
to our population between 2010 and 2020. As the population grows, general health care needs
grow as well. The increase in chronic care needs, the resulting rising costs over time, and
the inability of our current health care system to address these needs will create serious
challenges for the future if changes aren't made soon. Third, the health care industry, businesses
and consumer groups are eager for reform, and the issue is a key element of this year's
presidential election. All the ingredients for making positive change are in place.
So, let's start by coming together to discuss ways we can create a better health care system. What are your ideas? E-mail me at
D-O-U-G-H-A-W-T-H-O-R-N-E at TexasHealth.org. Although health care reform is ongoing and
there are many issues to address, we can start by focusing on access to basic health care for
all, affordability of basic health care, and reforming the system to ensure increased access
without sacrificing quality. For Texas Health Resources
and its family of hospitals - Harris Methodist Hospitals, Presbyterian
Healthcare System and Arlington Memorial Hospital - I'm CEO
Doug Hawthorne
with "The Business of Health Care Report" on NewsRadio 1080 KRLD.
©
2004 Texas Health Resources |
I'm Doug Hawthorne, President and CEO of Texas Health Resources, with
"The Business of Health Care Report" on 