Are Medical Physicists Prepared for Workplace Politics?
6) The Image Gently™ Campaign 1) HOW TECHNOLOGY CONTRIBUTES TO HEALTHCARE WOES Physics-based technology has benefited many patients, but it conversely adds to growing costs that have made health care insurance unattainable for many others. The United States spends twice per capita on health care compared to other advanced nations, yet it ranks comparatively low in length of life, infant mortality and other public health statistics. In the President’s Symposium, Dr. Arnold Relman of Harvard Medical School (arelman@rics.bwh.harvard.edu) will explore why Americans do not seem to be getting their money’s worth. The root of the U.S. health care problem may be the dominant influence of entrepreneurial institutions. Large profits for inventors and manufacturers, coupled with powerful marketing and automatic insurance reimbursements, have led to what many see as an overuse of medical technology. In countries with less privatization, emphasis is placed on greater access to doctors and hospitals
