- Center on Health Equity and Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
Marc Boutin Examines the Underutilization of Patients
The healthcare system in the US makes it nearly impossible for patients and physicians to form a real relationship, and patients are rarely asked about what's going on in their lives, which could inform treatment, said Marc Boutin, JD, chief executive officer of the National Health Council.
The healthcare system in the US makes it nearly impossible for patients and physicians to form a real relationship, and patients are rarely asked about what's going on in their lives, which could inform treatment, said Marc Boutin, JD, chief executive officer of the National Health Council.
Transcript (slightly modified for readability)
In what ways are patients still being underutilized?
Patients are being dramatically underutilized. We're spending very little time now in our system actually asking them about what's going on in their lives. Because the delivery of care is more than simply just providing for their clinical outcomes. It's really assessing what's happening in their lives, what are they capable of doing, what are they willing to do, and then aligning care around that.
We're also spending very little time actually asking the patient what's important to them. In the days of community doctors, they were there when you were born, they were with you for decades, and they knew everything going on in your life. They had a relationship with you. Everything in the system makes it virtually impossible for us to have a relationship with our providers. We don't go in, we don't tell them what's important to us, they don't have the time to ask, and they simply provide care that may or may not be aligned with what's important to us or what we're capable of doing.
Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work
April 16th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode, in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work program.
Listen
Dr Michael Farwell on FDG PET/CT Imaging to Predict Immunotherapy Response in Advanced Melanoma
April 15th 2024Michael Farwell, MD, associate professor of radiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, provides insights into a study on the benefits of using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT imaging to detect metabolic tumor changes in skin cancer.
Read More
Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps
April 9th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our strategic alliance partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.
Listen
Increasing Lp(a) Awareness for Better Cardiovascular Health: Dr Mary McGowan
March 24th 2024For Lp(a) Awareness Day, Mary McGowan, MD, FNLA, chief medical officer of the Family Heart Foundation, highlights how most people with elevated Lp(a) are completely unaware that they have this increased risk and calls for increased testing.
Read More
Dr Al Benson on Reimbursement for Supportive Care When Treating Patients With Cancer
March 22nd 2024Al Benson, MD, FACP, FACCC, FASCO, medical oncologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and associate director of the Robert E. Tillery Comprehensive Cancer Center, discussed findings from a national survey assessing barriers to comprehensive cancer care delivery.
Read More
