Where are we going?

You’ve seen it all—you can’t miss it—the wave of talking points, articles and arguments regarding waste, change, need and health care reform. It brings to mind, “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.” We all tend to view our individual realities (and the wants and needs that accompany them) through our own lenses, and this only adds to the complexity of what is already a difficult and frustrating health care reform discussion.

We’ve reached a point where we simply can’t hold on to a past that no longer works—and for all practical purposes, no longer exists. To try to do so is, as the saying goes, “like trying to nail jello to a tree.”

Today, we have almost instant access to greater resources. Information on just about anything is readily available. Now that we have it, what do we do with it? How do we use it? And where are we going with it? How in the world does this tie-in to health care reform? It ties in because we all have a responsibility to be informed—and we have a responsibility to make our voices heard.

The challenges facing institutions, health care and health care systems confront tradition—and this is part of what makes change difficult. The outcomes of this discussion are still uncertain, vague and indefinite. What does seem clear however is the need for continued dialogue that respects our voices and opinions. We’re still at the beginning, yet we already know the ending will bring change in “some” form. Will it make sense? Will it be enough? Will it be too much? I don’t know about Washington, but I wish I was smart enough to know exactly what this—and the related ramifications will ultimately mean in real terms and real results—for real people.

What do you think?