The improvements made in healthcare in recent years have been astounding.  Today with new medicines and technology healthcare and the quality of it has resulted in a longer life for many of us.  Today there are illnesses which in the past would have been a death sentence for many but now there are available treatments either to cure them or reduce the progression of them.  This is great.

     Healthcare is something that everyone needs whether you are rich or poor.  The quality of healthcare we have today cannot compare to that we had in the 1,800’s or even when our country began.  Over the years and centuries much has been learned about illnesses, what causes them and how to cure them.  Much research has already taken place concerning diseases that we face today and those that may be problems in the future.  The quality of healthcare that we have today is a result of this research and it must continue.  Research cost money and requires personnel who are willing to work hard in trying to understand various diseases, what causes them and approaches to finding cures.

     Congress has the responsibility to monitor the stability and reliability of new medications before they are released to the general public.  This occurs through the Food and Drug Administration.  Comparing the quality of healthcare in the United States with other countries is not a hard task.  The efforts of private foundations and the public to fund research must continue. 

The quality of healthcare we have today and the quality of healthcare we will have tomorrow is impacted by the actions we take as individuals and the actions of government and private industry.

     The quality of healthcare also involves the quality of training and certifications available for those entering the healthcare segment of our economy.  The quality of this training and the certifications can be seen in the number of foreign doctors who enroll and graduate from our medical institutions.  The new healthcare reform legislation is an attempt by government to improve the quality of healthcare and the availability of it for everyone.  This is an admirable objective.  Some say several of the requirements in the healthcare reform legislation are not a responsibility of the government and imposing fines for anyone not having health insurance are wrong.  While I do not agree with this requirement, I understand why it was part of the legislation enacted.  Individuals without insurance cost healthcare facilities money.  This cost can be found in the charges billed to patients. 

     I am not stating that the healthcare segment of our economy is perfect.  Any effort to improve the quality of healthcare and reduce the cost is a great thing.  The advance in technology and the research that has been conducted and is being conducted has or will have a positive impact on healthcare received in the future.  Granted there are problems and concerns which the public has about some of the content and the detailed requirements in the legislation that was passed.  While there will be some costs associated with some of the new requirements such as insurance companies not being able to cancel or deny insurance based on pre-existing conditions.  This is a good thing but the result of this requirement will increase the cost insurance companies incur to do business and this cost will need to be spread over all their clients. 

     The key to maintaining the quality of healthcare we have today and the quality we will have in the future is the continuance of research and the quality of education available for healthcare professionals.  Healthcare is a personal thing between a patient and their doctor (s) and this should not change.  We as individuals have a right to decide the treatment we want based on the options available to us as expressed by our doctor (s).  Quality of life is as important as the quality of healthcare.  They should co-exist not be an either or situation.  Insurance companies must understand the needs of their customers in these situations.  If conditions warrant the treatments and the patient has a choice it should not be a matter of cost if the treatments are allowed under the plan a patient has.