In the newest episode of The Health & Wealth Power Hour, host Harlon Pickett spoke with guest Doug Johnson, a registered nurse with over 30 years of experience improving healthcare quality. Their wide-ranging conversation provided thought-provoking insights into the future of healthcare.
A major focus of the discussion was the direct primary care (DPC) model. As Johnson explained, DPC offers a more personalized patient experience by allowing doctors to spend significantly more time with each patient. Appointments often last up to an hour, compared to the typical 5-10 minutes in traditional healthcare settings. DPC physicians also handle administrative tasks like referrals and chart reviews themselves, rather than passing off these duties. According to Johnson, this level of individual attention facilitates higher quality care.
In Johnson’s view, the DPC model represents a return to more traditional values of healthcare – a relationship-based approach with time to address the whole patient. He contrasted this with the current system that treats patients as “cogs in a machine.”
Pickett and Johnson also tackled the issue of physician-owned hospitals. They agreed this could benefit patients by aligning incentives toward quality rather than just profit. However, current regulations prohibit doctors from owning hospitals in many cases. The two discussed how this restricts healthcare innovation.
Additionally, the episode explored applying free market principles to bring down costs and improve access to care. Johnson described his experience explaining the complex healthcare system to Amish groups seeking more affordable and personalized options. He came away believing we need a “back to basics” movement in healthcare, learning from communities that embrace cash-based care and collective responsibility.
While the current system often seems entrenched, conversations like this one reveal promising ideas for the future. As Johnson stated, “People don’t fail, processes fail. It’s really the system and the structures and the management systems that are in place that make people fail.” His firsthand insights from working to enhance healthcare quality can inform productive reforms. Guests like Johnson are leading the charge to fundamentally improve our healthcare system by focusing on direct access, personal relationships, and innovative care models. With dedicated professionals pushing for positive change, the future of healthcare looks brighter than ever.
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