the healthcare system still doesn't "get it"

I have been doing this for 5 years and have just about seen it all, but this week I am COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED with stories of conventional medicine overtreating every symptom and abnormality with a prescription or a surgery. And the new healthcare system is going to allow more Americans access to care? That is a BAD thing as far as I'm concerned.

It's as if doctors are now in the business of customer service and freely give out a prescription or surgery to give immediate relief. The problem is they are wrong for two reasons:

1. These quick and/or aggressive fixes rarely improve the root reason for the concern in question
2. For the most part, the patient wants "care". That means they want to hear they are going to be fine, or that what is happening is normal and will resolve. They don't just want a pill to make it go away or some fancy-named diagnosis (exception: lots of patients still in appropriately want antibiotics for illnesses that do not need them).

Instead, patients are sent on aggressive and side-effect laden wild goose chases with surgeries, CT scans and other procedures that put them at risk and increase their worry that something really bad is happening for a symptom that will go away in time or improve with some simple lifestyle change.

My best advice (beside coming in to visit with one of our practitioners ;) is to wait it out. Whatever it is, wait it out. Now, on rare occasion there are signs and symptoms that are present that demand attention, no doubt. But always err on the side of taking care of yourself: get more sleep, breathe deeply, eat whole foods, laugh. If things worsen instead of stay the same or improve, go find someone you trust. Don't have a physician you trust, go find one. I have to believe that some still exist. Just tell them you want their care, respect and opinion, not a pill.

Have a story of when time healed. Please share...

RETHINKing Healthcare: My talk at TEDxFortWayne

hello health login issues

For those of you having trouble getting into Hello Health, it seems about 50% of the time the issue is an out of date Adobe Flash Player. 

1. Go to http://www.adobe.com/support/flashplayer/downloads.html and click on "Get the latest version" and go through the updating process. 

2. Close out of your internet browser.

3. Relaunch browser, go to https://user.hellohealth.com/ and login.

Hello Health recently updated to a new version, so often the above resolution will work. Alternatively, you may not have activated your profile yet and this may keep you from logging in to get your messages. You should have received an email early on in your relationship with us. If not, please let us know and we can resend you an activation key. Please just email clinic@gladdmd.com with the subject being "Need Activation" and in the body of the email simply put your Name and email address and we will take care of this.

powerless

We had a recent power outage at our house during the year's first winter storm. It only lasted about 10 hours, but it was some of the most enjoyable time our family spent together. You don't realize how much noise is in your home until it's all gone. 

We spent time in the dark, just telling funny stories, cuddling and overall just being a family. My kids spent time enjoying "survival mode" and loved when my wife or I had to go get something or use the restroom so that they could escort us with their flashlight.

It was in this experience we realized how really connected we are to technology and things outside of what's really important. It's quick and easy to throw open the laptop (it still had battery power, but I pretended it didn't) and check tomorrow's weather but then you see a link for a story on your favorite team or something else to distract you. When that option is not there, you remained focused on those around you. When you no longer can turn a screen on to entertain your kids, you have to be the one to entertain them. It's what family's all about. We loved it.

Here's my wife's version (she experienced the full 10 hours):

"We were without power yesterday.  I know you are thinking what an inconvenience that is, but when I reflect on the day I see actually what a blessing it was. I couldn't check my email or surf the internet, watch TV, do laundry or dishes, cook or clean.  These are the things I find myself usually busied with all day long.  When stripped of all of these modern conveniences and chores what else is there to do?
Well, I played imaginative games with my daughter and laid by her and read as she took a nap.  After school my kids and I played in the snow, had a candle light dinner and read books in front of the fireplace.
We had all the flashlights ready for a night of darkness and cuddling.  It was so silent and peaceful in our house without the hum of the furnace or refrigerator.  
And then it all came to an end abruptly when everything returned to normal and in an instant our peace was over.  Ironically, I found myself actually disappointed that the power came back on and that our adventure was over."

What a blessing. We've decided to truly "unplug" at least once a month now and go down in the basement and hit the circuit breaker for the whole house. Sometimes it's a good thing to be powerless.

Have a similar story or desire? Please share below...