I met a genie

Journal of Family Practice, Feb, 2005 by Jeff Sussman

As some of you know, I am an aficionado of antiques. Browsing through a local shop recently--"We buy unique, we sell antiques"--I came upon an old, tarnished Aladdin lamp. Imagine my surprise when I picked it up and out popped a genie, and a generous one at that! For this genie granted me not just three, but ten, wishes for our country in the coming year. I thought I would share them with you.

Every American has a medical home: All Americans deserve a medical home, a place where their care is coordinated and managed comprehensively (and we all know who can do this job best)

Post-marketing pharmaceutical surveillance: It's clear that once drugs are released, it's anybody's guess what problems may arise. Shouldn't there be a structured approach to assessing benefits and harms of pharmaceuticals and devices in the "real world"?

Turn all colds into pneumonia: Think of the time savings if we no longer had to disclaim about antibiotics for a viral infection!

Universal coverage for a basic health benefits package: Why should a country as rich as America have so many under- and uninsured persons?

Banish US News & World Reports ratings and NIH funding ranking: For many of our academic health science centers, these rankings appear to have become the sole measures of success. What a shame that education and community health have become afterthoughts!

Assure appropriate vaccine availability: Doesn't it gall you that we lack a reliable supply of vaccines for our patients?

Mandate a 40-hour physician workweek: Just imagine how much more effective (and more healthy) we would be if we worked 8 to 5? No more skipping lunch and dinner. No excuse not to exercise. No reason to miss our children's school functions. More time to contemplate the mysteries of life.

Develop affordable malpractice insurance: It is a shame that great, dedicated doctors are giving up maternity care, narrowing their practices, or retiring from medicine all together.

Establish a National Health Information System: Not just an EMR but a fully linked information system for healthcare. Then surveillance for disease and medication side effects could occur. And imagine the possibilities for improved care with universal access to patient health information.

Discover an original Toulouse Lautrec poster for $12.95: How could I resist?

What are your hopes for American medicine? The Genie told me if I could cure his back ache and claustrophobia, I might be granted a few other wishes. Contact me at, jfp@uc.edu.