Things will get worse before people start getting better

Things will get worse before people start getting better

EDITOR:

The Oct. 9 letter from a Hermitage writer, “U. S. needs to join modern world on health care issue,” makes many excellent points about the American healthcare non-system, although it understates the obstacles that must be overcome before our nation can have a rational, cost-effective program with coverage for everyone. The insurance industry and the U. S. Congress are certainly important obstacles to progress, as the letter asserts, but there are many others.

Consider the numerous thriving multibillion-dollar businesses that sell the drugs, supplies, equipment and services needed for healthcare. Think, too, of the massive institutions that provide much of the high-margin treatment – the Cleveland Clinic, for example, runs an annual budget of more than four billion (with a “b”) dollars. Then there’s the clumsy, grossly inefficient medical liability lawsuit system that pays more to lawyers than it does to “victims.” None of these can be expected to sit idly by as the nation develops a system that will slash their profits.

The overwhelming complexity of the present arrangement also makes it resistant to change. Healthcare is so fragmented and so technology-oriented that physicians tend to focus on their own niches, seldom thinking about the public good or the financial impact of their practice styles. Little attention is paid to family practice and other types of people-oriented primary patient care that can humanize the system, reduce overall costs and make it more responsive to what most people need most of the time. Recently published research has reaffirmed the obvious: many people are not getting the ongoing basic care that they need to prevent little problems from becoming big ones.

It seems to this observer that it will take several years to develop a national consensus on the best way forward and to find the political unity that will be needed to bring it about. Until that happens, things can only get steadily worse.

ROBERT D. GILLETTE, MD

Poland

Don’t restrict all dog walkers because of actions of a few

EDITOR:

I am a dog owner in Poland Village and walk my dog nearly daily in the Poland Municipal Forest. Recently the Poland Forest Board and the Village Council passed a first reading on an ordinance that would restrict dogs from most of the forest.

I have been walking my unleashed dog in the forest for more than 15 years. From my experience I can fully attest that the Poland Forest is a friendly place and other dog owners like me are partly responsible for it. I have not witnesses any mishaps during my walks, but to the contrary, a lot of friendly interaction among dog owners, joggers and others.

There might be some folks intimidated by unleashed dogs, but is it fair to restrict the majority for a few? In order to make it fair for all, why not restrict the hours and/or days of the week or perhaps seasons rather than 2/3 of the woods?

I hope the board and council will reconsider this unfair ordinance. .

EDITH C. SCHROEDER

Poland