The group identified issues for discussion, listed below, then discussed as many issues as time permitted. The burden of care has shifted from traditional caregivers to families. Health care is organized for the benefit of the staff and the corporation, not the patient. We now don't have enough specialty care because we've swung too far in the direction of preparing generalists. We need to find the appropriate balance.
Communication is no longer patient driven.
This change, so often seen negatively, is also an opportunity to improve our system, improve the quality of care we deliver. The challenge is to make the most of that opportunity. The discussion began with a discussion of how the burden has shifted from traditional caregivers to the patient's family. Dr. Low asked if that were necessarily a bad thing. Dr. Cleary said yes, if you consider that patient compliance is often the biggest obstacle to successful therapy.