Health care delivery and change: thoughts on Lema's "... of dinosaurs, dodos and anesthesia personnel".

Problems in health care delivery relative to access, costs, and quality have been debated for more than a quarter of a century. Health care costs have significantly increased since the implementation of the Medicare/Medicaid legislation. Cost containment has been high on the agendas of government officials, legislators, health policy decision makers, business leaders, and economists since the 1980s. There has been a shift toward market medicine and managed care as a means for cost containment. Although some costs were contained for a short period, they are once again rising significantly, and there is growing dissatisfaction with this shift. The United States is not alone in this dilemma. Mark Lema, MD, PHD, editor of the ASA Newsletter, wrote a thought-provoking editorial in the July 1999 issue, raising concerns about change, relationships, reimbursement, and demise relative to anesthesia personnel. In response, this article primarily raises the issue of health manpower mix as a major factor in the cost of health care delivery regarding these systems. Whereas change is inevitable, it is difficult for state and federal governments in the United States to force change because of the number of special interests involved in campaign financing involving elected government officials. It is nevertheless important for health professionals to be involved in the changes that come about, or change will be made for them. It is essential to renew society, institutions, and individuals in order to prevent decay and obsolescence. If we don't make the future, the future will make us.