McMedicine
The latest medical innovation has just reached a neighborhood near
me -- and it will probably reach you soon, too, if it hasn't already.
People are busy. Doctors are overworked. Three and four hours of
waiting at the emergency room or urgent care facility for a 10
minute diagnosis and prescription is frustrating to everyone. One
entrepreneur -- and frustrated father -- decided to do something
about it. He started a fast-growing chain called MinuteClinic.
Perhaps the name says it all, but let me expand.
This chain, and other facilities like it, are staffed by nurse
practitioners, and they limit their practice to diagnosing and
treating just a handful of common ailments and procedures, such as
strep throat, earaches, bronchitis, poison ivy, bladder infections,
and some vaccinations. Here in Maryland, they're located within
Target stores.
Certainly the "shorter-wait-time, no-appointment-necessary,
medical-care-while-you-shop" convenience of MinuteClinics is
appealing. So I hate to be a spoil sport. But I think it's a problem.
Or rather, it's an attempt at slapping a quick-fix band-aid on a
much bigger problem.
First of all, there is no continuity of care provided, or even implied.
The assumption is that people have a primary doctor, and that they
are keeping their doctor informed of the clinic visits. Which may
or may not be the case.
Second, the danger of missing a more serious problem is elevated.
Chronic colds or strep throat or other infections can be a signal of
immune system deficiencies and underlying disease. Quick-visit
clinics are an invitation to symptom management rather than
practicing preventive care or case management. (Of course, that's
not exactly happening at the emergency room or urgent care
centers, either.)
The MinuteClinic concept is merely a symptom of much bigger
problems we're facing in health care today.
I don't know that we can stem this tide. The business model is too
strong, and the demand for lower cost, faster health care is too
high. MinuteClinic alone has plans for 200 more locations in the
next four years. Like McDonald's, they will be everywhere -- but
whether you go or not will be up to you. More than ever, the
responsibility to practice preventive and natural health will fall to
the consumer.
The better option here is to safeguard your health naturally, keep
track of your medical records and visits, and establish a
relationship with a nutritionally savvy physician who will work
with you to find natural remedies for your health challenges. Don't
give in to drive-thru health care.
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Cease and de-cyst
Q: I read with great interest your tip about using SSKI for fibroids.
Does this therapy work for ovarian cysts, too? And if so, where can
I get it?
JVW: Yes, it does, and for the same reason. SSKI helps the body
metabolize estrogen, which is also the culprit in ovarian cysts. In
minor to moderate cases I generally recommend six to eight drops
taken daily in a few ounces of water. It takes about two to three
months of this to see results. But many people who have used this
therapy have had a great deal of success. For the record, the same
dose will also work for fibrocystic breast disease, and should work
in about three to six months. Just don't forget to contact a
nutritionally knowledgeable physician who can monitor your
thyroid function during treatment.
You shouldn't need a prescription to obtain SSKI -- although if
you are working with a physician you can get it that way. You can
also obtain it from a compounding pharmacist and some natural
food stores. Please contact the International Academy of
Compounding Pharmacists (www.iacprx.org) to locate a
compounding pharmacist in your area if you don't know one
already.
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What is...an ovarian cyst?
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form on the ovaries. With
cancer rates climbing, and cancer deaths the second leading cause
of death in this country, the word "cyst" can be scary. However,
most ovarian cysts are benign in women who are past puberty and
pre-menopausal. (Ovarian cysts in pre-pubescent and post-
menopausal women have a greater risk of being cancerous,
however.)
Usually they are not painful and they resolve without treatment,
although sometimes they can cause infertility, menstrual problems,
and pelvic pain. The best way to guard against ovarian cysts is to
keep your estrogen and progesterone levels balanced. The best way
to get rid of them naturally when they become a problem is with
Dr. Wright's suggested SSKI therapy (above).
Yours in good health,
Amanda Ross
Managing Editor
Nutrition & Healing
Sources:
Gee, Preston. Are You Ready for 'Big Box' Healthcare?
HealthLeaders News, September 24, 2004,
http://www.healthleaders.com/news/feature58603.html
