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Are Some Seniors Getting Too Much Health Care?

More is not always better when it comes to medicine, surgery

October 24, 2008

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If you believe more is better, when it comes to health care, you should consider this:

• 30,000 Medicare recipients die each year as the result of unneeded care;

• 50% of surgeries, tests, and procedures are not backed by scientific evidence as being needed;

• $500 billion is spent annually on unnecessary care in the United States;

• Twice as many physician visits at one highly respected hospital than at another highly respected hospital produced no difference in life expectancy, but a lot more in cost.

What can be done about it?

The answer is to become healthcare literate, according to John Boden, a former geriatric care manager and now president of LifeLedger.com, a Web site for family caregivers.

"Next you need a primary care physician who can clearly explain the diagnosis and all the treatment options. If you have a doctor like this, be thankful, and thank them. If you don't, get a new one," Boden said. "If you don't like the service in a restaurant, you don't go back. Why then would you go back to a doctor who isn't giving you the service you need and deserve? This is especially true, if as a caregiver you are not being kept in loop."

Finding a new doctor isn't easy, Boden concedes. like this is not easy. First it is most important they be smart, knowledgeable and well respected by their peers. But the hardest thing to learn is whether they communicate effectively with patients and their caregivers.

Ask the people you speak with specifically about how long the doctor spends explaining things and if all their questions get answered, Boden advises. Even with doing all the research you will have to make your own judgment, and trial and error is the bottom line. It is not an easy process but you are betting your or your elder's life on it.

Boden suggests caregivers ask doctors the following questions and write down their answers:

• How will this procedure be of benefit?

• Is there a less invasive or safer option?

• What will be the result if I postpone or don't have the procedure?

• What will be learned from this test?

• Will the test result make a difference in the choice of treatment options?

• Ask for the spelling of the medical terms and medications.

• Ask for printed materials if available.

Communication and respect are a two-way street and Boden says caregivers should be considerate and efficient with the extra time they're asking for.

"Be ready to make notes about the answers to your written questions and be an effective student, by having researched the issues before hand. The patient and the doctor should relate as teammates not as a parent to a child," he said.

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