"Squandering Billions" took on some of the characteristics of a
brand with the publication of a book by that name in late 2005, but
it is much more than that. It has been, in fact, the by-product of a
life mission of Dr. Don Nixdorf of Vancouver, B.C., a chiropractor
who has advocated the efficiencies possible if registered and
legislated health professions would end their territorial pursuits,
limit the obsession with dollars, put patient outcomes at the top of
the priority list and work in multidisciplinary environments.
What became the book had its origins at a 2002 Vancouver
conference attended by prominent politicians, health economists,
senior health administrators, compensation board executives, health
insurers, medical doctors, chiropractors and a broad representation
of other health professionals.
The Conference was titled Health Care/Wealth Care with a
much-advertised subtitle, Is it all about Money? The focus was on
the obsession of everybody in health care as well as politicians and
the public who elect them on money: the absolutely absurd and
indefensible notion that more spending means better health care. The
competition is so fierce for money - salaries, facilities, research,
technology, drugs - that patient care most often seems like an
afterthought. Yet the epidemic of adverse events is usually caused
by needless or incompetent surgery, and pharmaceutical issues:
diagnostic mistakes and drug interactions. In these instances, less
spending - in the billions - would save lives.
Too many MDs have become nothing more than order takers, sending
patients off to specialists, lab tests, radiology, hospital services
and - most problematic - just about always with a prescription for
drugs. The bottom line is that the health system must find ways to
bypass expensive gatekeepers who add no value to the health care
process and frequently promote remedies that do more harm than good.
Patients must more expeditiously be routed toward the
most-effective, efficient, and economical solution for whatever ails
them.
There is no lack of respect in this initiative for the marvels of
medical science and the miracles performed each day by practitioners
of all medical specialities, including those in family practice.
Often forgotten among the medical superstars are the thousands of
doctors and scientists working in public health pursuits who,
collectively, have likely achieved more for humanity than all of the
"reactive" cure-oriented health professionals combined.
Multidisciplinary approaches to care should be sought by all, and
particularly clinical environments in which nurse practitioners,
family physicians, specialists (either full-time or on call),
chiropractors, optometrists, nutritionists, internal medicine and
homeopathic doctors, physiotherapists, massage therapists,
podiatrists and all related technical specialties can work together,
ensuring that each expert's valuable time is invested in areas of
their own expertise, and that accurate diagnosis of patients must be
the key to all treatment regimens.
* * *
Gary Bannerman, a communications consultant, journalist and
author worked with the organizers of the 2002 conference and helped
publish a report of the proceedings. This publication perpetuated
the dialogue and controversy, and ultimately built demand for a
comprehensive book on the topic.
Nixdorf and Bannerman co-authored the book, with illustrations by
noted artist Kerry Waghorn. It was published by Hancock House of
Surrey, B.C. in late 2005, in both hard cover and trade paperback
editions.
Dr. Don Nixdorf has been among Canada's most prominent health
professionals for more than a generation, a member of national and
provincial agencies and a participant in countless numbers of
studies and Commissions. The Executive-Director of the British
Columbia Chiropractic Association since 1985, he is also a veteran
of countless encounters in all forms of media on behalf of his
profession, including his own open-line radio health program. His
work on behalf of the profession keeps him in frequent contact with
health ministers, other professionals, media, insurance companies
and community organizations. (www.dnixdorf.com/)
Gary Bannerman was a veteran journalist, publisher, public affairs
broadcaster and the author of several books. He served on the
board of directors of corporations of various sizes, and as a
communications consultant to CEOs and senior management of many
companies. He was published in countless numbers of magazines
and newspapers and, for 16 years, he hosted Western Canada’s most
successful news talk radio show. His work was honoured by
numerous prestigious awards. (Wikipedia - Gary Bannerman) He passed away on July 11, 2011.
Kerry Waghorn is the most accomplished caricaturist in the world.
His Faces in the News feature is a 35+ year journalistic legend. Represented by Universal Press Syndicate, his work has
appeared in more than 400 publications in about 60 countries. Among
the journals that have published his inimitable creations are the
Miami Herald, Boston Globe, Chicago Sun-Times, San Francisco
Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, New York Review of Books, New York Daily
News, Atlanta Journal, Montreal Gazette, Vancouver Sun, Japan Times,
Sydney Morning Herald, Hamilton Bermuda Business, Korea Times and
New Zealand Herald. (www.kerrywaghorn.com)
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