Health Care Reform Starts Here

DISCLAIMER: I am a currently employed by a subsidiary of the Hawaii Medical Service Association, but these thoughts are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer or its parent company.

I believe health care, in its current state, is broken and unsustainable. This post, however, has nothing to do with the legislation that President Obama signed in March. In my mind, the only real solution lies within each and every one of us. It's about KULEANA, personal responsibility. Physicians, the government, and even insurance companies can only do so much. To effect real change in this system, we must change ourselves.

The first step would be to take an honest look at your health-related habits and behaviors. Are you eating enough fruits and vegetables? Do you exercise enough? When was the last time you had your blood pressure or cholesterol checked? If you happen to be an HMSA member, there's a great tool available to you called Succeed. It is a health risk assessment that assesses your lifestyle and basically gives you a grade when you're done. Click here if you are interested in learning more. If you complete the HRA before October 15 and enter promo code JG494, you could win one of three gift cards: $500 to Costco, $200 to Walmart, or $100 to Foodland.

Secondly, you should get connected with a primary care provider. Why is it important? Check out this video by Emmi Solutions. Basically, it comes down to better coordination, which translates to better care. So who benefits most from a strong physician-patient relationship? YOU DO.

This isn't rocket science, folks. Make it happen!