Prevention over “Sick Care”
The article argues that although the U.S. spends more on health care than any other nation, it still faces poor outcomes, rising costs, and widening health disparities. It highlights that chronic diseases—responsible for most deaths and health expenditures—are driven by modifiable risk factors that the current acute‑care‑oriented system fails to adequately address. The authors call for shifting from “sick care” to a prevention‑centered model that delays disease onset and compresses morbidity for a healthier lifespan. However, entrenched structures dating back to early 20th‑century reforms continue to hinder widespread adoption of preventive approaches.
Learn more about First Call Pediatrics, our team, and direct primary care!
Value: Preventative Healthcare
Article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4339086/pdf/nihms663715.pdf
Citation: Fani Marvasti F, Stafford RS. From sick care to health care--reengineering prevention into the U.S. system. N Engl J Med. 2012 Sep 6;367(10):889-91. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp1206230. PMID: 22931257; PMCID: PMC4339086.
