Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology What is happening with healthcare? Today, I want to share with you some thoughts about changes in healthcare, not just insurance industry. Of course, insurance is a central part of the healthcare system in our country, but healthcare delivery is much more than that. You probably noticed some changes in hospitals' names and re-naming of some professional outpatient buildings in our community. One of the most persistent trends in healthcare is the concept of mergers. The bigger, the better became the focus of the clinical services delivery. Hospitals that worked directly in the communities for many years are now a part of a large system, with centralized services for patients, multiple locations, and often longer distance to get to. Medical practices are massively bought out by private equity financial firms, focused on high income rather than patients' convenience and well-being. I see a large number of patients who were forced out to see their previous doctors because their 'overseeing boards' from private equity discontinued contracts with their insurances. I also see patients whose Medicare is no longer accepted, because their doctors went 'concierge, requiring annual membership of several thousand dollars in lieu of acceptance of insurance. Stories we hear in our waiting room often scare us. Months of waiting to see a dermatologist or a cardiologist. Call center scheduling errors. Money requested up front or security deposits for potential non- covered services. And more.... Recently, we heard from a patient who was afraid to change her job because of the cost of her potential new insurance at the new employer. The bottom line of all the stories is always associated with less services, worse quality of that service, and more cost to that service. In many cases, patients must pick between paying for groceries or buying their prescriptions. On another note, as a society, we hear more about weight loss drugs and obesity, which is linked to many chronic medical problems. This is absolutely true that being overweight or obese is a risk factor for many cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, inflammatory diseases and even infections. However, it is more frequently further associated with poor nutrition that comes with low paychecks. Yes, healthy food is more expensive and many people just Dema bellies and, if you have little money, you care just about that. Healthy nutrition requires some education about what and how to eat, and we provide no such education in our schools. Thousands of young students come to school hungry and they are happy to eat anything to survive. And finally, young doctors graduating from medical schools often carry $300,000 debt in loans upon graduation. They look for jobs that can help them pay off the loans quicker than projected years. Otherwise, they may not qualify to buy a home or start a family. Thus, rather than return to the community and work with private practices, they get recruited by the same private equity companies that promise more financial opportunities, at least at the beginning. Rather than continue learning experience in the real life of their new patients, with personal approach and some continuation of care, they become a part of the financially focused large system, in which dollars are the goal. All the above leads us as a society to some really sad outcomes. As a country, we spend the most dollars per person on healthcare and we achieve poor results when it comes to longevity, general health, and life satisfaction. Healthcare debt and bankruptcies are unknown terms in the most of the world and they are the most frequent reasons people lose their homes in our country. The richest country on earth. cannot pay for groceries from organic food Michael Bukhalo, MD shelves. Cheap groceries fill in hungry Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology What is happening with healthcare ? Today , I want to share with you some thoughts about changes in healthcare , not just insurance industry . Of course , insurance is a central part of the healthcare system in our country , but healthcare delivery is much more than that . You probably noticed some changes in hospitals ' names and re - naming of some professional outpatient buildings in our community . One of the most persistent trends in healthcare is the concept of mergers . The bigger , the better became the focus of the clinical services delivery . Hospitals that worked directly in the communities for many years are now a part of a large system , with centralized services for patients , multiple locations , and often longer distance to get to . Medical practices are massively bought out by private equity financial firms , focused on high income rather than patients ' convenience and well - being . I see a large number of patients who were forced out to see their previous doctors because their ' overseeing boards ' from private equity discontinued contracts with their insurances . I also see patients whose Medicare is no longer accepted , because their doctors went ' concierge , requiring annual membership of several thousand dollars in lieu of acceptance of insurance . Stories we hear in our waiting room often scare us . Months of waiting to see a dermatologist or a cardiologist . Call center scheduling errors . Money requested up front or security deposits for potential non- covered services . And more .... Recently , we heard from a patient who was afraid to change her job because of the cost of her potential new insurance at the new employer . The bottom line of all the stories is always associated with less services , worse quality of that service , and more cost to that service . In many cases , patients must pick between paying for groceries or buying their prescriptions . On another note , as a society , we hear more about weight loss drugs and obesity , which is linked to many chronic medical problems . This is absolutely true that being overweight or obese is a risk factor for many cardiovascular disorders , diabetes , inflammatory diseases and even infections . However , it is more frequently further associated with poor nutrition that comes with low paychecks . Yes , healthy food is more expensive and many people just Dema bellies and , if you have little money , you care just about that . Healthy nutrition requires some education about what and how to eat , and we provide no such education in our schools . Thousands of young students come to school hungry and they are happy to eat anything to survive . And finally , young doctors graduating from medical schools often carry $ 300,000 debt in loans upon graduation . They look for jobs that can help them pay off the loans quicker than projected years . Otherwise , they may not qualify to buy a home or start a family . Thus , rather than return to the community and work with private practices , they get recruited by the same private equity companies that promise more financial opportunities , at least at the beginning . Rather than continue learning experience in the real life of their new patients , with personal approach and some continuation of care , they become a part of the financially focused large system , in which dollars are the goal . All the above leads us as a society to some really sad outcomes . As a country , we spend the most dollars per person on healthcare and we achieve poor results when it comes to longevity , general health , and life satisfaction . Healthcare debt and bankruptcies are unknown terms in the most of the world and they are the most frequent reasons people lose their homes in our country . The richest country on earth . cannot pay for groceries from organic food Michael Bukhalo , MD shelves . Cheap groceries fill in hungry Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net