When considering health care economics, one of the central concepts is efficient of use of resources. The resources that typically come to mind first are financial, but there are more fundamental, societal resources that need to be considered. In a previous post, Bill Maher referred to a recent Duke study that showed that for depression, exercise was effective as Paxil and Zoloft.

When looked at holistically you can see that the resources needed to design, create, distribute and prescribe Paxil and Zoloft were used inefficiently, the societal loss and opportunity costs were greater than the gain to the companies responsible for those drugs. These ubiquitous societal losses add up to a significant amount of value and end up being paid for, one way or another, by the American tax payer. What is needed is for people to take the “more personal effort, less societal cost” approach? How do we inspire this change?

What is necessary for us to turn the corner is “Empowerment Medicine”. One strong force behind us is the power of the doctor-patient or practitioner-relationship, because it takes the inspiration and guidance of a fellow human being to work past the short term. It takes empathy and it takes, ultimately, empowerment. That is why the personal training industry has grown so fast, for example, and I am sure is a powerful force behind the growth of our own industry.

In a bid to spread best practices, we would love to hear ways in which you have inspired your patients to take control of their health.

What have been the best analogies you have given?

What are the best questions you have asked?

What are the best stories you have told?

What else are most practitioners missing that has worked for you?

We will be bringing you many more posts on this topic!