US healthcare then and now: 1907-2007

We have met the enemy and he is us.

  • Walt Kelly

From an article published in JAMA on February 16, 1907:

It is strange that the hospitals and dispensaries of this country should be so shamelessly flooded with pseudo-charity patients, having no claim whatsoever to gratuitous service. It can be explained only on two hypotheses: First, the working of that innate trait of human nature which prompts to obtain something for nothing, and, second, the lack of good business discrimination on the part of the institutions whose benefits are thus abused.

This quote is almost 100 years old to the day. Does anyone see any similarities to today’s emergency department or medical practice?

This post originally appeared on Dr. Val’s blog at RevolutionHealth.com.


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