Imagine That—a Healthcare System That Works!

My dog's vets went above and beyond to find a way to get her a heart medication that hadn't been approved in the US but was widely used in Europe and Canada. This medication probably gave her two additional years of quality life.

I too often wondered what makes the animal health care system so able to deliver exceptional patient-centric care. I don't believe the compassion or talent is greater there than in the human health care system. Could the fact that there is no insurance layer that inserts itself between doctor and patient be a big factor?

I blog about couples and illness (http://www.insicknessinhealth

.blogspot.com) and have heard too many stories from both the ill and the well partner about the horrible choices they had to make or the treatments that were not available - because of their insurance coverage. And often this lead to the couple experiencing the doctor or hospital as the obstacle to getting good treatment, rather than as the enabler and companion on the illness journey.

Barbara K. of CA 2:37PM February 24, 2008