Health Care Reform Needs Team Work Not Turf Wars, Dietitians Say

For once, the docs have it partly right.

"Australia's leading nutrition organisation has welcomed debate on reforms to the primary health care system, but hit back at doctors for devaluing the role of other health professions as part of the healthcare team."

The mistake is that the physician is as bad a sick care partner to patients as are the other health professionals.

"According to Executive Director of the DAA, Claire Hewat, health professionals, such as doctors and dietitians, must work together in mutual respect for the best outcomes for patients. 'Best patient care demands teamwork from the key players, not mud-slinging between health professions - that is simply not helpful. The health of our nation should be our priority, and there should be more opportunities for the health professions to collaborate to improve patient health,' commented Ms Hewat."

Wrong.

For patients to have the best outcomes, docs and dietitians have to step aside and stop impeding patients from achieving success.

This is clearly true in the domain of overweight/obesity where these health predators are the cause of most diet failure.

It is likely true in other domains, as well.

The goal of any sick care system should be to downsize by removing all the needless interference of the foxes in charge of the sick care henhouse and upsize where their interference is of value.