Sunday, August 11, 2013

BloggeRhythms 8/11/2013

Yesterday’s entry got me to thinking further about major problems in government in general, and the current administration in particular. My own recent visit to medical practitioners stimulated my thoughts, whereas I think they illustrate systematic flaws caused when bureaucratic procedures become more important than the expertise, talent and services provided by skilled practitioners themselves.
 
As mentioned yesterday, one of the doctors, a cardiologist, became so bogged down in paperwork, he had to hire additional staff to remain in regulatory compliance. And while that was an administrative adjustment, although it appeared on the surface to be merely a change in documentation handling, albeit a significant one, the disruption caused went far deeper than that.
 
As a practical matter, doctors are needed for their medical skills and their abilities to heal and repair illnesses and injuries sustained by their patients. Therefore, the more time they have to tend to those who need them, the more benefit they provide for all.
 
But, as my cardiologist explained to me, many of the additional new forms, charts and documentation are not only redundant, they can only be completed by himself as the operative practitioner. Thus, he not only has less time to ply his skills, he becomes more and more drained and physically exhausted from the drudgery, jeopardizing his capabilities. And that to me sounds like a total loss, all the way around.
 
The other physician I visited is one of the foremost in his field of surgery, who now not only has similar practical problems, but others as well.
 
In this case, because of his extraordinary skills he was brought on by a major hospital in a senior management position, which I guess, is how the institution demonstrated its appreciation of his joining their staff.
 
However, while still performing a full surgical schedule, his new post includes other responsibilities, such as managerial tasks and dealing with all departmental personnel. And although he certainly knows everything there is to be learned about those who work in surgery alongside him, those who file folders or type summary reports aren’t exactly practicing the disciplines with which he’s intimately familiar. Yet, the responsibilities are nonetheless his and management expects him to fulfill them which is very disturbing and distracting to him.
 
So, here again we have continually excessive requirements, brought on primarily by unskilled bureaucrats having no idea of how medical procedures themselves are performed. This, in turn, is insidiously weakening health care provision in ways they can’t see, comprehend, or will likely ever learn.
 
I brought this subject up again today whereas I believe it makes an extremely important point. Because health care reform has even really started yet, but nonetheless two highly talented, very successful practitioners have not only been forced to sell their practices, the government’s causing their invaluable skills to diminish while it turns them into paperwork-shuffling clerks.
 
That’s it for today folks.
 
Adios

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