To me virtual care can mean one of two things. First, virtual care(1) may mean a collection of tools that can be used to increased the ability to communicate over distances; but like most tools it can be inappropriately used; and used to replace the often much needed in person engagements.
Second, virtual care(2) may represent care that does not really solve the root challenges. It’s virtual in the sense that it only puts out the symptom but allows the root cause to smolder.
“A death knell is the ringing of a church bell immediately after a death to announce it. Historically it was the second of three bells rung around death, the first being the passing bell to warn of impending death, and the last was the lych bell or corpse bell, which survives today as the funeral toll.”
So perhaps virtual care is more like the “passing bell to warn of impending death”. I don’t think the death of our universal health care will be the real tragedy; rather it is the premature morbidity and mortality of a naive and misguided people blessed with all the resources but lack resourcefulness. I think introduction of private or hybrid care is a forced consequence of the growing appetite of the Golden Calf of “healthcare” which exist for one reason and one reason alone – sustain its ROE (return on investment)
Virtual care(1) is perhaps a valiant resuscitations attempt to meet the insatiable virtual needs not met by virtual care(2); or perhaps just another innovation of the Golden Calf that shall hasten the death knell.
Regardless of universal, private or hybrid, in my opinion, genuine and effective health “care” only begins when individuals are empowered to think critically and pay attention to real needs rather than perceived (virtual) needs. Who should be more capable and well positioned to take the lead than the physicians? Doesn’t the funeral bell ring for everyone?
Second, virtual care(2) may represent care that does not really solve the root challenges. It’s virtual in the sense that it only puts out the symptom but allows the root cause to smolder.
“A death knell is the ringing of a church bell immediately after a death to announce it. Historically it was the second of three bells rung around death, the first being the passing bell to warn of impending death, and the last was the lych bell or corpse bell, which survives today as the funeral toll.”
So perhaps virtual care is more like the “passing bell to warn of impending death”. I don’t think the death of our universal health care will be the real tragedy; rather it is the premature morbidity and mortality of a naive and misguided people blessed with all the resources but lack resourcefulness. I think introduction of private or hybrid care is a forced consequence of the growing appetite of the Golden Calf of “healthcare” which exist for one reason and one reason alone – sustain its ROE (return on investment)
Virtual care(1) is perhaps a valiant resuscitations attempt to meet the insatiable virtual needs not met by virtual care(2); or perhaps just another innovation of the Golden Calf that shall hasten the death knell.
Regardless of universal, private or hybrid, in my opinion, genuine and effective health “care” only begins when individuals are empowered to think critically and pay attention to real needs rather than perceived (virtual) needs. Who should be more capable and well positioned to take the lead than the physicians? Doesn’t the funeral bell ring for everyone?
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