To the editor:
Dr. Wilson (in "Letter: Claims-filed Data No True Indicator of Care Quality") blames the patient or the lab for apparent poor quality of care in her two examples. It's frustrating, but even if that is correct, explanations like that will cause us trouble.
We say we are comprehensive providers and effective advocates in the health care system for our patients. We claim special relationships with patients that make us different from other providers. An approach that accepts poor results and limitations based on patient reluctance and administrative interference denies that we are any different from any other specialty.
If we can't find ways to overcome those obstacles, we will eventually give up our claim of added value because of special connections to patients. The supersubspecialist and occasional consultant can do just as well and can blame patients or third parties, too.
We need to be the leaders in finding reasons behind the reasons and overcoming those because of our unique ability to relate to each individual and family under our care. If we don't, or worse, if we can't, we will become very hard-working and intolerably expensive routers, adding no value for the health care system. We need to do better.
David Miller, M.D., M.B.A.
Concord, N.C.
