An opportunity to improve health care
We already employ tele-neurologists to remotely clear patients for early stroke intervention, and use tele-radiology to improve timely interpretation of imaging studies when no radiologist is on sight.
Congress has been considering a version of Obamacare repeal replacement that would return an element of control of the money related to health care back to the states. While it is true that most citizens of Oklahoma are less than enamored with the leadership capabilities of many in our state Capitol, done correctly, Oklahoma could use this opportunity to radically improve the health care of our population.
Our current system is failing. While many of Oklahoma’s dismal statistics regarding obesity, diabetes and drug abuse are intimately tied to personal responsibility, the fact remains that we have many Oklahomans who struggle to find care. The 30 percent of our population that is considered “rural” is particularly hard hit. Our focus must turn to innovation and an element of technology as components to short-term and potential long-term solutions.
It’s unpopular to admit that many of our rural hospitals are failing businesses. Much like the community school, the hospital is a proportionally large employer and is perceived as integral to “survival” of the town. In its current form, this model is not sustainable. So let’s change the model. Should these struggling facilities be made into primary care clinics with a small emergency room? Patients could be screened by a health care provider who is backed up by easy access to higher-level providers via telemedicine. We already employ tele-neurologists to remotely clear patients for early stroke intervention, use tele-radiology to improve timely interpretation of imaging studies when no radiologist is on sight, can review EKGs off site with the push of a button, use telemedicine for psychiatric evaluations and therapy in order to save transportation costs, and have Oklahomans developing HIPPAcompliant software that allows access to your medical record no matter what facility you need to visit for care. We have innovators who are working to build and mine databases of indicators and using computer algorithms to attempt to predict patients at risk for a variety of eye diseases. The day is coming when your X-ray will be screened by a computer that has millions of other exams to compare it with, an algorithm that may be right more often than humans. The day is coming when the ability to screen your EKG, the images of your retina, your lab values or even sudden changes in your weight will be evaluated by computers and tagged to earlier intervention with your doctor.
With or without taxpayer dollars returning to our state via block grants from the feds, now is the time for a coalition of forward-thinking Oklahomans to lead reform. Let’s bring together the private systems such as Integris, Mercy, the University of Oklahoma, Saint Anthony, St. John’s and St. Francis, along with the Oklahoma State Medical Association, the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association, physician assistants and nurse practitioners and devise an innovative, comprehensive statewide system that provides health care, not just another way to fund health insurance.
Times are changing. So much of what we are doing right here in Oklahoma could lead to cost savings and, more importantly, improved patient care. We just need to be prepared to lead.