Changes Starts in Curriculum (W5P3)

 For some reason, this module actually made the issue seem more approachable. When you look at the big picture, it seems like the issue is almost impossible to beat. However, the videos I watched highlighted the role of individual doctors. The system is unlikely to be broken but I do not think that means change cannot occur. Change starts in medical school. I understand that there may need to be financial incentive to start to teach the best methods of treating chronic illness, but I think that doctors do want to learn and eventually, the demand will be high enough for integrative care that it will be in the best interest of universities to include it in the curriculum. Again, I am a hopeless optimist and I understand that we will never reach the health of other countries. But do I think the problem has to be this bad? Absolutely not. Let's start not by being perfect but by being better. In no issue has change occurred immediately. This can be done and it starts with enforcing doctors to have comprehensive education in integrative health so that they can communicate with their patients the most effective treatment plan. Once patients understand that they cannot be passive recipients of care, I think that the system will be better. 

I am super curious about what would happen if doctors started sharing the stats of prescription effectivity. I mean really, would just that small change dramatically change the health care system? If my doctor prescribed me a pill and said well this is 5% effective but if you made this change to your diet, you could live 10 years longer, I would absolutely make that change to my diet. And especially if the doctor said, "I am on this nutrition plan too and it took some adjusting but it has worked for me". Not every doctor is going to communicate perfectly, but I think that simple step could make a huge difference. Imagine if that was typical practice how different the medical institution would be. Medical error deaths would be so low and it would truly be the decision of the patient whether or not they were going to overcome their poor health and live a longer life. So, why can't we make that change?