TOP-3 Deadly Dx: Identification & Solution
“This is the big one Elizabeth!!” Sanford & Son, a 1970s American sitcom starring Redd Foxx as a cantankerous junk dealer and Desmond Wilson playing his son Lamont, depicting their dysfunctional but loving relationship in Watts, Los Angeles, California; becoming a massive hit for NBC from 1972-1977 by blending racial humor, street smarts, class dynamics, and all-around good humor!!
TOP-3 Deadly Dx: identification and solution
Today’s Healthcare System is driven by Diagnosis, the more the better; this is where decisions are made, pills are prescribed, tests are ordered, procedures are procured, manpower is brought in, ads are produced, and bills get paid for. The diagnosis has become KING in our current day healthcare system, it is undeniable and inescapable; it is what rules the day, morning, noon, night, and nearly every waking moment in-between. Whole institutions, research facilities, medical offices, institutes of higher learning, non-profits, for-profits, and voluntary organizations, have sprung up throughout the land, on-line, and in our mailboxes; as well as in our personal, city, county, state, and federal funding mechanisms; which are all directed at identifying, treating, alleviating, comforting, and/or curing, the deadly and duly documented TOP-3 Deadly Diagnoses!!
As a young Physical therapist new to the field with water dripping from behind my ears; maybe just yesterday, I was often surprised to meet my new patients after doing my due diligence in reviewing their medical charts, looking over their doctors’ orders, investigating their diagnoses, procedures performed, and prescriptions ordered, up until that present day. Oftentimes what I encountered there upon the multiple pages of transcribed medical terminology was a supplemental description, listing, describing, and categorizing, of my patient’s Life story as seen through the lens of the current day healthcare landscape; but it was in-complete, it did not account for the true value of the person lying behind the pages. Today, I continue to be surprised, and pleasantly so, to meet and greet the people lying behind the pages; they seem to be so real, so Life-like, and they turn out to be so much more than what was portrayed on the petri dish of tests, measures, pills, shrills, and procedures; they are actually living, breathing, feeling, thinking, caring, and hopeful beings. Things have not changed much today; only now, we have become even more inter-connected with more and more facets of a person’s medical history, tests, measures, diagnoses, treatments, complications, and revisions: past, present, future, and yet to be told; but yet, it is still an incomplete picture of the person’s inherent self-worth.
From my current perch, comfortably sitting here on the precipice overlooking the current healthcare landscape, with the backing of more than 35 years’ experience working in various healthcare facilities to include: hospitals, nursing homes, assisted livings, home health, and private practices; is something that I have witnessed professionally, and experienced personally over my time in the field. It is more than a simple movement away from an individualized, person-centered, family care model; to one which is now seen to be more-impersonal, protocol-driven, payment-oriented, government-regulated, and corporately-infused model of care; which values efficiency over personal connection, communication, and striving our best for optimal outcomes; even though that is the message of most institutions clearly stated, colorfully presented, and widely advertised Mission Statements.
Science, experience, and our own eyes, have shown us that Life is the most beautiful thing, but it won’t last forever; so now is the time to make a difference for the future. The leading cause of death and disability in the U.S. and around the world is heart disease; which accounts for one third of all deaths globally, with cancer coming in at number two. Now, in my book, in my mind, and in the annals of my time on this planet; with the backing of science, research, work in the field, outcome models, statistics, and personal experience, I have identified the TOP-3 Deadly Diagnoses;
#1. HEART-DISEASE is consistently the #1 cause of death in the U.S. and beyond; it affects people of all ages, genders, backgrounds, ethnicities, and health categories; though additional risk factors like high blood pressure, poor diet, smoking, risky behavior, over consumption, and hypokinesis also contribute significantly here.
#2. HYPO-KINESIS is associated with developing a myriad of well-defined diseases, as is documented in the pages of history, medical research, family photo albums, personal experience, and Lifestyle statistics. Hypo- means less than; Kinesis- means movement; so, when we bring these two portions together, we get Hypokinesis, which categorizes the person as not being adequately physically active.
#3. HUMAN-OSIS is the most pervasive, widespread, and all-encompassing condition of the TOP-3!! It is highly addictive, contagious, unavoidable, and easily spread through intimate contact. This most deadly of the three is incurable, inoperative, inherent, and it will follow us into the abyss; but while we are here, there are a few things that we can all do to work with and treat the condition, so that we can live to our fullest. See, this is not the end, but maybe only the beginning; so, buckle-up buttercup, here we go!!
PT is the answer: Personal Touch, good food, good Lord, healthy environment, loving family, active Lifestyle, fasting, kind mind, serving our neighbors, civic engagement, good humor, and drum roll please. . . Physical Therapy!!
At this rate, we just might live forever. . .
