Lead by Example: Choices for a Better Health Care System

Annual Education Program

The Annual Education Program, “Lead by Example: Choices for a Better Health Care System,” featured speakers who offered visions for improving U.S. health care systems.

Health economist Eric Finkelstein, PhD spoke about the effects obesity has on individuals and on the economy. Obesity is largely the result of technological advancements that have reduced the relative costs of food and lowered physical activity, he said. Dr. Finkelstein also noted that many businesses do not invest more money in obesity prevention programs and then discussed ways in which such programs might work better to make it cheaper and easier to be thin.

Assistant professor of medicine and health care systems Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD focused his presentation on financial incentives for healthy behavior. Noting that changing behaviors is the key to improved health, Dr. Volpp suggested changing the path of least resistance in favor of healthy behaviors, for example offering water in addition to soda at fast food chains, and by replacing candy and soda vending machines at schools with healthier options. While discussing incentives, Dr. Volpp referenced several studies, in one of which participants lost a portion of their own money if they did not lose weight. He found that loss aversion is a powerful motivator.

The two major concepts that professor of public health Peter P. Budetti, MD, JD discussed were market justice (health care is delivered on the basis of individual choices and resources) and social justice (where health care is allocated based on need). He said the tension between these concepts is played out in the rise and fall of health care coverage, and the medicalization of health care, which is executed by such development as direct-to-consumer drug advertisements and expansion of off-label drug use.

Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Carolyn M. Clancy, MD spoke about the future of health care and the foundation of health IT, specifically electronic medical records. She discussed how the health care industry can enhance and increase the quality and value of health care. She called for a health care system that includes the “rapid translation of beneficial advances or breakthroughs” and “connectivity with the biomedical enterprise.”

MMS president B. Dale Magee, MD, MS, closed the program by noting that the event did a lot to “broaden our perspective.”

If you wish to submit a post-event question, email it to continuingeducation@mms.org. Type 2008 AEP in the subject line and identify the speaker(s) who you would like to pose your question to. The deadline for emailing questions is Thursday, May 14 at noon, and questions and answers will be posted at www.massmed.org/2008AEP, beginning on Monday, May 12.