what would MacGyver do?

The health care mess. You know the one. The one screwing everything and everyone up. What would MacGyver do?

A story in today’s New York Times talks about “Bringing Comparison Shopping to the Doctor’s Office.” It opens with “Americans comparison-shop for items as small as groceries and as big as cars. But they rarely compare prices on their health care.” That’s the messaging I used when I was the flack for The Leapfrog Group, urging people to research hospitals to compare quality and track records before checking in for care. (Go to Leapfrog for a free tool that allows you to comparison shop for hospital care.)

What’s that you say? You don’t want to have to “shop” for a personal health care provider? You have quite enough on your plate, thank you? Can’t docs just get along, keep their hands clean, and be good, competent and honest?

With health care today embodying divergent modes of care, conflicting philosophies even on what “health” means, alternative vs. traditional medicine, and docs who overcharge and  ones who don’t wash their hands, we have to face the music. While our nation’s health continues its downward steady march, you need to add health literacy to your to do list.

MacGyer says do your homework when it comes to your health.

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It’s Friday and I’m giving you homework? Criminy! Since school’s mostly out, I give you a funny video of BP oil execs handling a disastrous coffee spill…

One more thing: Text “GULF” to 50555 to give $10 to www.SaveOurGulf.org (founded by Robert F. Kennedy), more info at http://yhoo.it/9DPypz; or, text “WILDLIFE” to 20222 to give $10 to the National Wildlife Federation oil spill efforts, more info at http://nwf.org/oilspill.