Basic Health Access

Datapalooza is a celebration of advances in digitalization over the past decade. It is a chance to promote ideas, concepts, career opportunities, and merchandise. A call for papers could reward the right author with a publication - and even more attention. An academic approach to Datapalooza would critically consider whether the electronics movement has delivered or diverted with regard to the promises of improved health outcomes. There is good evidence that it has increased costs and has adversely impacted access to care where 40% and increasing proportions of Americans most lack access.  Year after year since 2005 and before, there have been the same promises - lower health care costs, better outcomes, better patient satisfaction, and better team member satisfaction. Year after year it is apparent that there are more costs and complications from digitalization. Health care spending has more than doubled and entirely in areas that have not improved outcomes ...

The recent Beyond Flexner postings and social mission articles have revived interest in Academic Medicine's Season of Accountability and Social Responsibility  by William T. Butler, M.D. Dr. Butler gave this address to AAMC in 1990 and expected a response - one that never came. The following are predominantly Dr. Butler's words with an update regarding the lack of progress regarding his calls to action. Public Concerns About the Overall Health Care System Dr. Butler declared that academic medicine had entered a new and stormy "season" of accountability and social responsibility, due to public concerns about the overall health care system. His recommendations are followed by comments regarding academic medicine addressing these concerns or not. Public concerns have continued. There has been no progress in this area. The political arena has been a distraction, but the concerns continue. The same types of headlines listed not only are seen in the media headl...