You can beat the high cost of healthcare. Davenport surgeon, Douglas Khoury, M.D., is the Medical Director for the Mississippi Valley Surgery Center and provides some practical advice on how that can be done. (View the report that ran on WQAD-TV here.)
Dr. Khoury not only serves as the liaison between medical practices and the MVSC, but is an active advocate and policymaker regarding the quality of healthcare delivered to MVSC patients. We asked Dr. Khoury about his concerns about the rising costs of healthcare and how patients can advocate for better health
Douglas Khoury, M.D., Davenport General Surgeon
Q. How can people lower the costs of health care?
A. People who live healthy lifestyles – ones that help them stay fit and keep excess weight off – generally spend less for health care. Those who exercise regularly, consume balanced diets, and are nonsmokers are more likely to live longer and spend less time visiting doctor offices and emergency rooms. In addition, following screening guidelines for conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, breast cancer, and prostate cancer will tend to identify abnormalities earlier which will often lead to less costly and more successful treatment(s).
Q. When a person becomes sick, how can he or she control the cost of treatment?
A. When surgery becomes a treatment option, patients should explore the most cost-effective options; those most likely to get an optimal result in the shortest time frame at a reasonable cost. In many instances, minimally invasive procedures are the most cost-effective, and usually result in a faster return to one’s normal activity level. The Mississippi Valley Surgery Center’s minimally invasive procedures usually get patients home the same day. At most it keeps them for overnight observation only. That’s a huge savings over staying in a hospital following a more traditional open operation.
Q. Isn’t advanced, cutting-edge medicine more expensive?
A. Cutting edge medicine doesn’t have to be more expensive, especially if it gets the patient back to work sooner. Efficient delivery of quality health care is less expensive than treating diseases for long periods of time. Some minimally invasive equipment is more expensive than that used for traditional operations, but that cost can often be offset by a shorter convalescence. Patients need to actively participate in their health care management. This includes asking appropriate questions of their doctors and considering all the treatment options offered. Many of my patients have researched their diseases before they come to see me which leads to a more well-informed patient who can help me deliver the best treatment possible.
Q. What is the biggest concern patients face?
A. Delay is the biggest concern. There are a number of serious health problems that can be treated easily when they’re detected early. Waiting allows conditions to become more advanced and more expensive to treat. The top early-detection tests for cancers are: mammograms to detect breast cancer, digital exams for prostate cancer, colonoscopy for colon cancer. The best surgery is the operation you didn’t need because you took care of a problem early before it required a more invasive treatment.
Q. What is the biggest concern doctor’s face?
A. Doctors are working hard to find the right balance between cost and comprehensive health care. Mississippi Valley Health Network surgeons – in all specialties – are focusing on using minimally invasive techniques. Although the surgical instruments are expensive, using them results in patients spending less time in hospitals and recovering more quickly. Minimally invasive procedures dramatically reduce the overall cost to society, especially when patients can return to work more quickly.
WQAD-TV ran a report on this same subject in May of 2010. You can watch the video here.
