By Kester Freeman
Retired CEO, Palmetto Health
Despite what some people say, veterans hospitals are not all bad. In fact, as an article in The Wall Street Journal today points out, when it comes to going digital, veterans hospitals lead the way.
The system serves more than 7 million patients at 153 hospitals and 765 outpatient clinics. As you can imagine, they had thousands of folders and charts, and going digital was a necessity.
In contrast, only about 1.5 percent of U.S. hospitals nationwide have a comprehensive digital record system, and many are struggling to make necessary changes by 2015 as the government has asked.
Here’s my point.
The common phrase "whatever the government operates it ruins" is just not true. The myths around healthcare reform are outrageous.
Joe Lieberman just announced that he will not support a public option. I assume he feels that commercial insurance is less bureaucratic and more efficient than the government. Has he ever dealt with a big insurance company? What nonsense.
The VA is not perfect by a long shot, but it sure is doing a dramatically better job of late. I can't understand our love of capitalism in healthcare.
While the free market is essential to our prosperity in business, it is not the answer when it comes to providing health services.
