A Paradigm Shift for the American Health Care System?

At  95, she wasn’t taking any medication other than a daily baby aspirin as recommended by her eye doctor.  Always effervescent in her conversation and youthful in her stride, she was hoping for a big 100th birthday party.  That birthday party never happened.

A broken hip changed her course.  She underwent a surgical procedure followed by admission to a nursing home for rehabilitation.  Her bubbly character never returned.  Fifteen months and an avalanche of medical decisions later, she passed on.

Sound unusual?  Not so.

In recent years both, Time magazine and  New York magazine featured articles documenting similar stories of families attempting to navigate the American health care system on behalf of their loved ones; often with great frustration and woe.   

In an effort to bring this story to film, directors Matthew Heineman & Susan Froemke invested 6 months of research into the creation of a documentary entitled, “Escape Fire; The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare”.  In a statement, the directors wrote, “By combining powerful human stories with leading experts, we hope our film can help catalyze a paradigm shift in how our country views health and healing.”1 First shown at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, this award winning film is readily available on DVD.

Many people are seeking a fundamental shift in how they care for their health.  A PewInternet Health Report states that, “81% of U.S. adults use the internet and 59% say they have looked online for health information.”   

Among the myriad shifts the public is seeking, perhaps the most paradigm altering is the search for health care that recognizes the “whole” man – mind, body, spirit. Spiritual thinkers and seekers might find themselves visiting Oprah’s  OWNetwork.   Her “Super Soul Sunday” series has featured spiritual/health thinkers such as Eben Alexander and Deepak Chopra. 

Leading universities such as George Washington are also contributing.  Christina Puchalski, MD, author of, “Spirituality in Healthcare” and founder of the GWish program, has taken a huge first step by developing a “Spiritual Assessment Tool” to aid in improving a patient’s medical outcome.

Research consistently shows that what occupies our thought can have a profound effect on our health. So it isn’t surprising that physicians such as Dr. Puchalski and a number of others are further investigating how spirituality can contribute to improvements in how people care for their health and how physicians practice medicine.  

Paul, an early follower of Jesus’ teachings to not only preach but also heal wrote in a letter to the Philippians that we should think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report (Phil. 4:8). Over a century ago, health researcher and healer, Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “Your influence for good depends upon the weight you throw into the right scale.”

The writings of both these thinkers revolutionized my way of thinking and praying.  Centering my thought on God, which is identical with the Anglo-Saxon word for good, has caused a healthy paradigm shift in my experience.  My thinking has evolved from a glass half full approach to earnestly searching for good in everyone and in every experience.  The undeniable outcome has been more consistently good health for over two decades.

Good thoughts and spiritual reflection are key to health and to finding solutions individually and collectively.  A new – old, really - opportunity is knocking; to shift our thought and experience healthy results.     

Debby Kowit blogs on the link between spirituality and wellness and the positive impact of healthy thinking on our lives.  She is the media and legislative liaison for Christian Science in Pennsylvania. You can follow her on Twitter @PAComPub

References:

1 The National Medical Home Summit