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How to Achieve a High-Performance Health Care System in the United States
TO THE EDITOR:
The College's recent position paper (1) is a thought-provoking examination of many problems in the U.S. health care system. Unfortunately, the recommendations, representing the official policy of the College, are alarmingly unrelated to the data presented. Certainly, we could reach a strong consensus that our current system, despite the superb quality of care available to most Americans, fails to provide the same quality of care to everyone. It is also undeniable that the rapidly growing cost of our system will soon begin to tax our ability to continue to improve and innovate. Reform is necessary.
The College's recommendations for reform, however, ignore one of the key elements driving overuse of technology. Overuse of technology is a complex issue, but fear of liability actions clearly takes a huge toll on most physicians and results in substantial use of medically unnecessary (but legally driven) diagnostic procedures. As physicians, we are partly responsible …
