The Hands of God and San Diego Healthcare

In mind of our recent celebration of Easter, the Bible tells us in scripture of people who rose from the dead. Two people easily come to mind: Lazarus, who was restored to life after three days by Jesus as proof of his being the son of God, and Jesus himself. I was at a gathering recently and learned that my friend George had recently gone through open heart surgery. It was not just the fact that he had major surgery that left me stunned, it was the fact that our healthcare system had failed him so completely that he became a walking dead man before having his surgery. It was by chance alone that he came across two incredibly brilliant and gifted doctors, Dr. Nassir Azimi and Dr. Michael Koumjian; without their timely intervention, my friend George would not be with us today.

It was a night of shock and awe. Awe, because of the life–saving miracles and skills these doctors have developed and are able to perform, and still more awe at the new state–of–the– art hospital that is about to open to serve the patients of East County. And shock at the stories that floated around the room at just how broken our healthcare system has become. Often, getting that critically needed care is almost an act of God himself.

Dr. Azimi told me, "I am a believer in a higher power, God. He works through us in healthcare. When someone’s time comes, none of us would be able to get in the way. Yet, we do have ever–changing technology which facilitates God’s work through us and allows for miraculous saves!"

This gathering was to introduce and honor Dr. Nassir Azimi (interventional cardiology) and Dr. Michael Koumjian (cardiothoracic surgery) for saving George’s life. The doctors gave a short presentation of the advances made in cardiothoracic surgery and a preview of the new facilities. But the joy of medical advancement was soon replaced by shock and anger as stories of failed HMO’s, Covered California and increasing costs circulated through the room. Tales of people with inconsistent primary care under new plans, doctors overloaded with patients, insurance companies denying recommended treatment plans, doctors forced to justify their actions to people who are little more than bookkeepers, doctors short–changed by the insurance companies and, at times, not paid at all for their services.

As our troops on the ground in a battle zone are the tip of the spear, so are our doctors that provide our care in the medical field. The system needs to be designed so the doctors inform the patients of their treatment options so they can make the best decisions, and patients need to be able to choose their own doctors and stay with them. It appears that our medical field is 50% or more administrators; there are too many intermediates that often get in the way of care, rather than facilitating it. While administrators might be great at running a business, they should have no say whatsoever in telling a doctor what course of treatment should be allowed for the patients in need.

America may have the best healthcare available to its citizens, but the problem with our system is access. It should never be about profits and projected mortality rates, it should be about the doctor and his patient, and getting these people healthy again— because every life matters.