The purpose of this article is to look a bit closer at each of these segments of waste, and look to see how a change in lifestyle behavior may actually have an impact on them (or not). Our goal is to see a relationship and a potential solution where many do see a connection. In looking at a prudent (and small) expenditure on wellness programs, health care executives, government agencies, and private companies can see a positive ROI AND less waste within the system \u2013 in part because less services are being rendered.<\/p>\n
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If unnecessary medical services<\/b> accounts for the largest percentage of waste, then adopting a more vigorous and healthy lifestyle may do much to curb many of these expenses. \u00a0Take heart surgeries. It has been estimated that 1\/3 of these surgeries are unnecessary. In choosing a more active lifestyle, the odds of a physician recommending either an initial or secondary heart procedure are reduced dramatically. Another area is cancer care. \u00a0After initial surgeries and medical procedures, survivors are in many times left to their own devices for long term recovery. \u00a0Recent reports suggest that maintaining a long-term exercise program reduces health care costs for up to 10 years post-diagnosis. The same can be said for diabetes care. \u00a0Reducing body weight by just 10% can impact glycosylated hemoglobin, blood pressure, and other co-morbidities. \u00a0If we saved even 1\/3 of the costs of unnecessary medical expenses solely due to a more active lifestyle \u2013 it may save 9%of the overall cost of care \u2013 or about $70 billion.<\/p>\n
Inefficient care delivery<\/b> is a bit tougher to diagnose, but if look at the fastest growing segment of healthcare \u2013 home health; we see that there are a lot of companies vying for the home care market. Companies that are promoting wellness are betting that home care patients who engage in regular lifestyle activities such as walking, balance training, better nutrition practices, and overall strength exercises may improve both the number and severity of falls, strokes, and bouts of hypoglycemia (leading to dizziness), and reduce the odds of suffering an acute symptom. \u00a0Part of our mindset in the US is \u201cwatchful waiting\u201d, which (as a health promotion professional) makes no inherent sense at all. \u00a0Here the medical profession is basically giving up and waiting for something to happen \u2013 then administer care (which is much more expensive, time consuming, and wasteful by its nature).<\/p>\n
Even a quick look into the front office of most private practice doctor\u2019s offices, one views the volumes of patient charts and reports that must be completed to varying degrees for liability and billing purposes. Most doctors don\u2019t have the time to review charts to the detail necessary to know all about their patient\u2019s condition (to their credit, they can rely on their medical experience to handle many types of conditions that come across their desks during their day). To have their staffs work through all of this information for billing purposes is inefficient at best, and wasteful to a large degree. Even with the advent of online billing and computer apps to smooth transitions, it is still time consuming to fill out the paperwork necessary to get the reimbursement. \u00a0Again \u2013 exercise may reduce the number and severity of many types of conditions (such as a diabetic in good control, vs. someone who has one or more complications). Or \u2013 a patient with minor arthritis who still conditions regularly, vs. a patient with a more advanced state of arthritis, needing multiple interventions.<\/p>\n
Many have seen charts of persons who are in a revolving door pattern with their health care providers \u2013 they are massive. \u00a0Most charts of persons how are in good physical condition (and need less interventions) are small. \u00a0This is what we should strive for.<\/p>\n
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In conclusion \u2013 the plight of our healthcare system is a large problem. However \u2013 over the past couple of decades, exercise has established itself as one of the least expensive \u201cprescriptions\u201d available. We have a national network of providers (health clubs, hospital wellness centers, YMCAs, JCCs, Rec Centers, and homes); we have more and more fitness providers, and more in medicine willing to refer to these types of programs.<\/p>\n
Time will tell as to the ultimate success of wellness and fitness programs as part of our national discourse on prevention and cost effective treatments. However \u2013 knowing what we know \u2013 we can either NOT participate in the debate, or put on a pair of walking shoes and make a difference, or stand by idly as costs continue to escalate and the health of the nation continues to decline.<\/p>\n
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