Educate your patients, you may save their life

Original Internist, June, 2009 by Howard Levinson

Our healthcare system faces many challenges in the future. Escalating costs, lifestyle related chronic disease, adverse events related to hospitalization, pharmaceutical dependence, and the rising numbers of the uninsured need to be addressed- Patients need to know some facts concerning the dangers of traditional medical care and the alternatives they can choose to stay healthy.

DANGER IN HOSPITALS: The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee advised that Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) account for an estimated 2 million infections, 90,000 deaths and $4.5 billion dollars in excess healthcare costs annually. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC), noted that HAI's (those occurring in hospitals) cost between five and six billion dollars annually and result in almost 100,000 deaths in the US every year.

Back in 2000, Barbara Starfield, MD, MPH at Johns Hopkins reported that there were 12,000 deaths as a result of unnecessary surgeries, 7,000 deaths due to medication errors, 20,000 deaths due to other hospital errors, and 106,000 deaths due to non-error negative side effects of drugs.

DANGER IN MEDICATION: Obviously, some medications are lifesaving, but none are without risk. The FDA, charged with assuring drug safely, is not without problems. Controversies include heart valve problems associated with the use of the diet drug combo Fen-Phen, or the increased suicide risk in anti-depressant usage, the heart attack and stroke risk caused by Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra, and the diabetic drug Avandia has been noted to have an increased risk of heart attack. Recently, warnings were issued concerning the use of several antibiotics noting increased risk of muscle and tendon damage.

DANGERS OF BEING UNINSURED: Uninsured Americans are up to four times less likely to have a regular source of care than the insured and often go without screenings or preventative care. Thus they are more likely to be diagnosed with a disease in an advanced stage and delay needed care.

Uninsured Americans between the ages of 55 and 64, are at a much greater risk of premature death than those with private health insurance, resulting in un-insurance being the third leading cause of death for the near-elderly, following heart disease and cancer.

The traditional disease model healthcare is evidently not working. Over one third of the population receives some form of 'Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). Patients are seeking a method to avoid the risks of medication, hospitalization and surgery.

EDUCATE YOUR PATIENTS, YOU MAY SAVE THEIR LIFE; Inform your patients that there can be "DANGER" in medications and hospitalizations. Cite the statistics in this article. Help them understand that it is easier to stay well than get well. Teach your patients the importance of diet, nutrition and supplements. Place them on a regular exercise program and help them adhere to a healthy lifestyle. Give them stress reductions techniques. If you don't, who will? If you do you could very well save a life.

About the Author

Dr. Levinson has been a Chiropractic Physician since 1984 practicing at 1005 Dunn Road, in Florissant, Mo. Dr. Levinson has published a number of articles in professional, technical and trade journals and is a frequent lecturer, he can be reached at weheJpehiros@aol.com.

by: Howard Levinson, DC