Engaging With Health Care: How A 'Going Healthy' Movement Can Save America

Dr. Ralph Snyderman, former president and CEO of the Duke University Health System, proposed the idea of a "going healthy" social movement in his article "Making Sense of Health Care Reform". He argued that if we made it easier for individuals to engage in healthy activism and behaviors, we could revolutionize the health and well-being of America. Drawing parallels with the recent and ongoing "going green" movement, Snyderman suggested that America could benefit by recognizing the value of health as "a resource and shared responsibility,' much like the environment.

After having studied about the benefits and potential risks of prospective health care for the past two years of my undergraduate college career, I would like to state my support for such a provocative and plausible movement in America. Prospective Health Care, an integrative approach to health enhancement and disease prevention, is built upon the premise that we should use our emerging medical resources to predict and prevent diseases, and personalize treatments to encourage patient empowerment. Prospective Health Care understands that the existing health care system is reactive -- it responds to immediate health needs and does not encourage preventive medicine. Such a system is costly and does not encourage an optimal state of health in America. Patients visit a doctor only after they become sick; and while America's treatment capabilities are unprecedented and provide miracle-level treatments, it does not recognize that there are simple ways we can protect and improve our health before it becomes a problem.

A "going healthy" movement would synergize an individual's relationship with the health care system and change the general attitude towards personal health. Individuals would be empowered to take control of their health, instead of purely delegating health care issues to constituents like providers, insurance companies, and governments; rather, we would work with our health care providers and physicians to create personalized ways to maintain our health. Such a rational health framework would foster collaboration and cooperation between major constituents of the health care system and beyond. Such targeted health care approaches will be efficient and effective approaches to medicine, as individuals will receive just the care they need.

Students at Duke University have already taken proactive steps to encourage a going healthy, Prospective Health Care based initiative. We have encouraged personal engagement with health behavior on campus. Our 'Prospective Health Challenge' initiative rewards students and employees with tangible prizes for taking control of their health and making active healthy decisions. Other Duke student groups hold 5K challenges, awareness days, and other events to promote positive health behaviors.

But, even outside of a college setting, where grassroots movements often plant themselves, the general population of America can and must take certain simple steps to preserve control of their health. Instead of a sustained frustration with the health system's loopholes and costs, we Americans should realize that our interactions with the health care system are only one part of our health maintenance.

Most Americans agree that the health care system is faulty; but we cannot continue to blame our ailments and diseases on the system, which ultimately does respond to our reactive health care needs. Rather, we must personally engage with health needs and understand that we can prevent issues like obesity that overwhelmingly affect the nation. We cannot be afraid to admit that health maintenance requires an active response and willingness to participate in the health system.

The going green movement is proof that a social movement can produce large-scale reform on a political, social, and economic level. However, it initially took a conscious effort on the parts of individuals, as well as other constituents, to recognize that there would be benefits to taking active steps to preserve the environment. A going healthy movement is likely the next social movement for America; we see the signs of prevailing health care, discuss the faults with the current system, and recognize the growing issue of health care in America. We Americans know that we can fight for what we believe in.

A going healthy movement just makes sense, and is one of the best ways we can concurrently work with Washington to preserve and improve health in America. Our nation was built upon the foundation of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Key to maintaining our ideals is the preservation of a healthy life. Our simple preventive measures can have a significant impact on the preservation of our health. A going healthy movement is an effective way to encourage all Americans to make sense of health uncertainties.

 

Comments

[sgerndt]

A "going healthy" movement is great in concept and I agree with your proposal, but I also agree with others that in the absence of palpable financial incentives, it will fail. There is no question that we have to hold people financially responsible for their personal choices and behaviors that look irresponsible from a healthcare perspective. The second, perhaps more difficult aspect of necessary healthcare reform is that we spend a majority of resources on care given in the last year or days of a persons life. I believe this is in part cultural in that there is no universal belief system in America to deal with death and dying. Perhaps a second impactful movement, would be a grass roots thinking that acknowledges death to be part of the human life cycle, and allows us as a society to avoid wasteful allocations of resources that do not effect the end result, but in fact often put dying elderly people through ineffective, demoralizing pain and suffering.

[matthewdboyle]

Corporations can help out too. Perhaps they could pay 100% of health insurance policy costs for ideal weight employees who take advantage of preventative health care measures. Employees, however, would have to cover the (hopefully significant) costs of smoking, being overweight, or not seeking preventative care.

In short, unless the "going healthy" movement imposes financial penalties on people who fail to heed its goals, it will not have the significant and necessary impact on cutting medical costs of which it is capable.

[matthewdboyle]

Dear Ms. Jain,

Your analysis of the problems stemming from the lack of preventative care in the United States is insightful and well argued. However, it is my opinion that your solution of a "go healthy" movement is a bit naive. Despite the millions of dollars poured into "going green" campaigns, the fact remains that few people actually recycle, and fewer people have changed their energy consumption habits to help the environment. Corporations, of course, have changed their behavior, yet a closer analysis reveals that their motivations are hardly altruistic (in fact, as inanimate objects, corporations are, contrary to popular wishes, incapable of altruism). They have reduced energy consumption both for the long term cost savings and to avoid the negative press, and therefore the negative effect on sales, that would accompany their failure to "go green". In short, the go-green movement has changed behavior only insomuch as financial incentives make the cost of not switching too high to bear.

Of course, your proposed movement would be a great place to start. I simply think that we, as a nation, should go further. We should tie the cost of your insurance premiums to your use of preventative measures. The first and most painfully obvious step is to increase premiums for people who are overweight (an extra 1% to your premium for every pound above your ideal weight), which would allow premiums to be greatly reduced for people who actually maintained their healthy weight.

[Upom Malik]

I agree with Ms. Jain that creating an environment that focuses on personal and preventative health care is a good idea. However, I have a couple of questions. Much of the motivation for the green movement is to build the political will needed for designing and implementing national and international policy frameworks that would allow society to properly capture the social costs of carbon dioxide (ex. cap and trade), because these costs are not immediately apparent to the carbon dioxide emitter. However, the costs of reactive health care and, as aesthete pointed out, the benefits of preventative health care are immediately felt through our health care costs and our quality of life. Therefore, do we need the "going healthy" movement to focus on designing policy frameworks? If so, what should these frameworks be? And if we do not need new policy frameworks, what can the movement do to redesign the relationship between health care provider, doctor, and patient?

[JohnKny]

I absolutely agree with the going healthy movement. I think it puts the responsibility where it should be, on the individual.

http://www.luckyslicks.com

[ChristineWithRegence]

Patient empowerment is so important! Isn't it odd how we comparison shop for so much, but we never know the costs of health care procedures and treatments? Why do I hesitate to ask "Why?," "How much?" and "Is it necessary?" All of us want better quality and better value, and so we've got to stop just nodding along and start getting good health care and lifestyle choices in our own control. Where they belong. I got a kick out of this fun, short video. Check it out. It makes you wonder why our health care system is set up the way it is.
www.whatstherealcost.org/45secondstoshare

[B E E]

i agree with erica and like the idea of a "going healthy" movement. i think some of that is happening right now as i see more and more people looking to the foods they eat as more than just bringing pleasure to the mouth but also to bring nourishment to the body. while i am encouraged by what i see, i also see the statistics and understand our current history that will likely NOT lead to health - the lack of profit. there was a panel that spoke to congress last spring that included dr. weil and dr. oz that promoted the idea of utilizing health counselors to assist people in doing just what is suggested. it's a great idea that anyone that wishes to thrive in the coming years will heed on their own.

[Catriona]

"A "going healthy" movement would synergize an individual's relationship with the health care system and change the general attitude towards personal health. Individuals would be empowered to take control of their health, instead of purely delegating health care issues to constituents like providers, insurance companies, and governments; rather, we would work with our health care providers and physicians to create personalized ways to maintain our health. Such a rational health framework would foster collaboration and cooperation between major constituents of the health care system and beyond. Such targeted health care approaches will be efficient and effective approaches to medicine, as individuals will receive just the care they need."

And what about those who don't have 'health care providers' because they are uninsured, and those insured individuals whose insurance only covers care for treatment of a health problem?

Silly idea.

[tompoe]

Snyderman doesn't mention what he wants to do with the 250 million Americans that literally cannot afford preventive visits to the fee for service physicians that provide inferior health care to their patients. Maybe Snyderman needs to just "stuff it".

[Aesthete]

In addition to health care reform there is much that we, as individuals, can do to cut health care costs---by engaging in such prevention of poor health actions as proper nutrition, weight-watching, exercise, etc. Trust me, it's extremely rewarding. I went for a check-up today and the results were something to celebrate. In six months I have lost a total of 37 pounds and it makes a huge difference! We can do it ourselves!