Friday Reflection: What if ‘they’ start winning?

The chart reads, “here for 6-month AF ablation follow-up.”

My eyes track first to the palpitations box. None.

Then the ECG. Regular.

Good. That’s a relief. Sweet!

Knowing he was free of symptoms and in regular rhythm, I bounced into the room.

“How are you?”

He looked well. Observe. Always observing, us doctors.

I just got my final bill for the ablation.

Uh-oh. Pause. “Think, John.” Come up with something about how healthcare doesn’t have to be so expensive. Or capitalism incents innovation. Or, the same procedure costs ten-fold less in Germany. But all I could think to say was:

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, it seems like a lot but pales in comparison to the money it cost to care for my AF before the procedure. Thank you.”

More relief.

We ended up chatting about cost-effectiveness. That’s because when an AF patient no longer has AF there isn’t much else to discuss.

Nice.

I tweeted today that electrophysiologists are lucky to have procedures that change peoples’ lives for the better. Our (evidenced-based) tech-heavy devices combined with training and some skills really do work. For people.

And though I wished I didn’t feel this way, (I never used to), it’s gratifying when these hard-won successful outcomes beat down the negativism of the take-the-fun-out-of-medicine people. Though they try to extract our joy, with their forms, and clicks, and ‘pre-certs’ and mostly their distrust, for now, our worthwhile work, which makes a difference in the lives of those we serve, wins out.

Thank goodness.

Imagine if it didn’t.

JMM