4 Principles Every Wise Healthcare Consumer Knows: Principle #1

February is National Wise Healthcare Consumer Month. No, I refuse to talk about the new Affordable Care Act because I could probably count on one hand the number of people who actually understand what the bill says and what its future implications will be. Instead, I would like to share the FOUR principles that every wise consumer must understand about healthcare.

The first principle is  the concept of Emergency Intervention vs Health Promotion.

Emergency Intervention

One of the biggest misnomers in our society is the labeling of our healthcare system as “health care.”  The current system that is in place does not focus on staying healthy, but rather on what to do when we get sick (read sick to mean anything as minor as the flu all the way to cancer and any illness or malady in between). In 2010, the U.S. spent over 2.3 trillion dollars on “healthcare” and we continually spend more than any other country in the world (there is a fantastic visual of this compared to the rest of the world here ) It then stands to reason that we, as a country, should be the healthiest – most dollars spent on our health, right? Sadly, that is not the case.  This Bloomberg study ranks the U.S. at number 33 (other studies feature similar standings). The truth is, the majority of our “healthcare” dollars (over 90%) are not spent to keep us healthy, but to try to make us less sick.

There are actually two distinct types of care: emergency intervention and health promotion. There is a very clear difference between the two. One is reactive and happens after an incident occurs, while the other is proactive and helps to prevent sickness and promote optimal health and healing. Now certainly both paradigms are necessary for our society to function (emergency intervention is exactly what I want if I’m in a car accident or break a bone). However, when the majority of our “healthcare” dollars are spent in the emergency care arena, it is only logical that we will create more dysfunction and disease, rather than a healthy population.

Health Promotion

To understand these paradigms further, let’s compare two properties on the same street, one with a security system and the other without. One day a couple of thieves decide to burglarize the two houses. Upon entering the house without a security system, they were able to steal and damage thousands of dollars worth of property. Even if the owner has the best insurance available, it is still going to take hours of paperwork, phone conversations, scheduling and lots of money to restore the property to its original state. When the burglars try to enter the property with a security system, they immediately flee the scene because of the alarm that scares them away. Other than minor damage to a door or window, everything else remains unscathed because this property was prepared. 

In the second example, because the owner invested in the security of his home, it will take far less time, money, and energy to overcome the attempted burglary. This is exactly what I am referring to when I talk about health promotion. Taking the time to invest in your health by exercising, eating organic fruits and vegetables, consuming high quality food supplements, mediating/praying/journaling, receiving massage, and of course regular chiropractic adjustments are all minimal upfront investments to promote your health. However, the majority of our “health care” dollars wait until the emergency (i.e. high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, heart attack, obesity) before investing anything towards health promotion. At this time, it will take far more time, money, and energy to recover from that emergency than if you had been investing in your health throughout your life. In the words of a good friend, “Do not wait until it’s too late!”

This is the first of four principles that should act as guidelines for how you assess your healthcare choices.  There is no perfect plan for guaranteed longevity or vitality; but there are wise choices you can make on a daily basis to increase your health into you golden years.  Knowledge is power, and now you know.  The true test is what you do with it.

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

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