photo credit: soundfromwayout

I have taken my own advice and began running outdoors for a change. So far, I love it. I have run outdoors 3 days in a row. I am more sore in my thighs and legs than I am when running on a treadmill. I believe someone left a comment in my earlier post about using more stabilizer muscles when running outdoors than on the treadmill. I have to agree, because I am feeling pain in muscles I never feel pain in when running at the gym.

If weather permits, safety, etc., I suggest finding a safe place running outdoors. There is nothing like it. I find myself running further than I ever would on a treadmill. I think the atmosphere is so much better. The big benefit about running outdoors that I like is that I come up with so many great ideas for my business. It’s crazy! It’s like my mind is clear and these ideas just come up!

I know I have quite a ways to go but I would love to be able to run in a 5k sometime in the future. So far, I can run 2 miles and I plan on running 2 miles each day until it starts feeling “easy” for me. If you have been wanting to run outdoors, I can highly recommend it now. Not only is it fun, it is a great way to clear your mind and come up with new ideas.

This post is sponsored by:
Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Men���?�s Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. Turbulence Training for Fat Loss

Note: If you are not reading this at www.tryingfitness.com then you are reading a scraped feed!

Visit www.tryingfitness.com and subscribe by email or by using the RSS feed.

photo credit: soundfromwayout

I have taken my own advice and began running outdoors for a change. So far, I love it. I have run outdoors 3 days in a row. I am more sore in my thighs and legs than I am when running on a treadmill. I believe someone left a comment in my earlier post about using more stabilizer muscles when running outdoors than on the treadmill. I have to agree, because I am feeling pain in muscles I never feel pain in when running at the gym.

If weather permits, safety, etc., I suggest finding a safe place running outdoors. There is nothing like it. I find myself running further than I ever would on a treadmill. I think the atmosphere is so much better. The big benefit about running outdoors that I like is that I come up with so many great ideas for my business. It’s crazy! It’s like my mind is clear and these ideas just come up!

I know I have quite a ways to go but I would love to be able to run in a 5k sometime in the future. So far, I can run 2 miles and I plan on running 2 miles each day until it starts feeling “easy” for me. If you have been wanting to run outdoors, I can highly recommend it now. Not only is it fun, it is a great way to clear your mind and come up with new ideas.

This post is sponsored by:
Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Men���?�s Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. Turbulence Training for Fat Loss

Note: If you are not reading this at www.tryingfitness.com then you are reading a scraped feed!

Visit www.tryingfitness.com and subscribe by email or by using the RSS feed.

I sit at a desk all day as I’m sure many of you do as well. I have to tell you, some days I am just aching in my shoulders and I get headaches from the pain. I know it has to do with how I sit and not taking enough breaks. I finally got rid of my old computer chair which caused me to slouch and picked up a better one that I now sit up straight in.

It is much more comfortable to sit at my desk and type. I’m not slouching at all and my shoulders are more relaxed. If you are a desk jockey and find yourself in pain after a long day of work, you may need to start taking more breaks during the day and stretching out a little bit. Breaks are hard to take when you are so engrossed with work but below are some tips to hopefully help you get into the habit of doing ergonomic exercises to relieve some pain and tension.

Rest Your Eyes
Sitting in front of a computer all day means constant staring at the monitor for hours on end. Your eyes need a break too. Try looking off into the distance to refocus. Also try covering your eyes with your palms for 15 seconds. I forget where I picked that up but it helps a lot and feels relaxing.

Eye Strain Exercises:

Get Your Blood Circulating
We are not meant to sit for hours without any movement. Keep your blood circulating by walking around after every hour of work. It’s easy to forget to take breaks so you can set the alarm on your watch to remind you or use the alarm on your email program (I think Microsoft Outlook has this feature.)

Exercises for Neck Pain
Nothing hurts worse on me than my neck when I am sitting all day. I found a good video which demonstrates neck exercises that you can do at your desk. I particularly like the “figure 8″ exercise - it is very relaxing.

The best thing for me, besides stretching, is to actually get up and walk around. Sometimes I am stuck on a problem and leaving my desk actually helps me refocus and figure out a solution much faster.

image credit: stock.xchng

This post is sponsored by:
If you���?�re interested in learning exactly what to eat to lose fat the natural way - without supplements, without drugs and without slowing down your metabolism - while also learning the why behind it all, then Tom Venuto���?�s program could truly change your life: Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle

Note: If you are not reading this at www.tryingfitness.com then you are reading a scraped feed!

Visit www.tryingfitness.com and subscribe by email or by using the RSS feed.

I sit at a desk all day as I’m sure many of you do as well. I have to tell you, some days I am just aching in my shoulders and I get headaches from the pain. I know it has to do with how I sit and not taking enough breaks. I finally got rid of my old computer chair which caused me to slouch and picked up a better one that I now sit up straight in.

It is much more comfortable to sit at my desk and type. I’m not slouching at all and my shoulders are more relaxed. If you are a desk jockey and find yourself in pain after a long day of work, you may need to start taking more breaks during the day and stretching out a little bit. Breaks are hard to take when you are so engrossed with work but below are some tips to hopefully help you get into the habit of doing ergonomic exercises to relieve some pain and tension.

Rest Your Eyes
Sitting in front of a computer all day means constant staring at the monitor for hours on end. Your eyes need a break too. Try looking off into the distance to refocus. Also try covering your eyes with your palms for 15 seconds. I forget where I picked that up but it helps a lot and feels relaxing.

Eye Strain Exercises:

Get Your Blood Circulating
We are not meant to sit for hours without any movement. Keep your blood circulating by walking around after every hour of work. It’s easy to forget to take breaks so you can set the alarm on your watch to remind you or use the alarm on your email program (I think Microsoft Outlook has this feature.)

Exercises for Neck Pain
Nothing hurts worse on me than my neck when I am sitting all day. I found a good video which demonstrates neck exercises that you can do at your desk. I particularly like the “figure 8″ exercise - it is very relaxing.

The best thing for me, besides stretching, is to actually get up and walk around. Sometimes I am stuck on a problem and leaving my desk actually helps me refocus and figure out a solution much faster.

image credit: stock.xchng

This post is sponsored by:
If you���?�re interested in learning exactly what to eat to lose fat the natural way - without supplements, without drugs and without slowing down your metabolism - while also learning the why behind it all, then Tom Venuto���?�s program could truly change your life: Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle

Note: If you are not reading this at www.tryingfitness.com then you are reading a scraped feed!

Visit www.tryingfitness.com and subscribe by email or by using the RSS feed.

photo credit: Chris Makarsky

I admit it, I run on the treadmill way more often than I do running outside. Sometimes it’s a shame since I live in southern California and the weather is almost always beautiful. So why do I tend to run on the treadmill more? Personally, for several reasons:

• Random dogs - sometimes there are dogs wandering around without an owner and I am afraid of them.
• Heat - I don’t wake up early enough to run to avoid the heat and by the end of the day I am bike riding or busy.
• Safety - I do worry about traffic and overall I feel safe in my neighborhood but I still stay cautious.
• Variety - the treadmill at the gym keeps me out of the heat and if I get bored, I can use other machines.

When I do run outside, I enjoy it and many times I run with someone else like family or friends. However, that only happens every so often and mainly on a weekend. If you are like me and want to break free from the treadmill and venture out and hit the pavement, here are some tips you can try:

• Start walking first - find a nice area around your neighborhood or one of your favorite places and walk. Eventually you may find a course that you feel comfortable enough to run in.
• It’s the shoes - purchase good running shoes if you don’t have any. Running outside requires decent shoes. You’ll help prevent injury and your feet will thank you for it.
• Dress for success - invest in running clothes that wick away sweat. You will enjoy your runs more if you dress for the weather.
• Find a track - if you have access to running tracks, try those out before finding a course on the street. You’ll feel safer and still enjoy the outdoors.
• Safety first - have an ID bracelet created with your name and other emergency contact information. Also carry your cell phone to call for help in case of an emergency. Also, run against the flow of traffic and never assume cars will see you. I’ve seen cars nearly hit people crossing the street when they have the right of way so stay alert.

Running on the treadmill isn’t all that bad if you still want to do it more often than running outside. Just remember that the treadmill tends to overestimate speed and your distance so running outside will feel quite different. You can simulate street running on a treadmill by increasing the incline.

Do you run outdoors a lot? What are your tips for people like me who want to break free from the treadmill for awhile? Everyone feel free to comment!

This post is sponsored by:
Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Men���?�s Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. Turbulence Training for Fat Loss

Note: If you are not reading this at www.tryingfitness.com then you are reading a scraped feed!

Visit www.tryingfitness.com and subscribe by email or by using the RSS feed.

photo credit: Chris Makarsky

I admit it, I run on the treadmill way more often than I do running outside. Sometimes it’s a shame since I live in southern California and the weather is almost always beautiful. So why do I tend to run on the treadmill more? Personally, for several reasons:

• Random dogs - sometimes there are dogs wandering around without an owner and I am afraid of them.
• Heat - I don’t wake up early enough to run to avoid the heat and by the end of the day I am bike riding or busy.
• Safety - I do worry about traffic and overall I feel safe in my neighborhood but I still stay cautious.
• Variety - the treadmill at the gym keeps me out of the heat and if I get bored, I can use other machines.

When I do run outside, I enjoy it and many times I run with someone else like family or friends. However, that only happens every so often and mainly on a weekend. If you are like me and want to break free from the treadmill and venture out and hit the pavement, here are some tips you can try:

• Start walking first - find a nice area around your neighborhood or one of your favorite places and walk. Eventually you may find a course that you feel comfortable enough to run in.
• It’s the shoes - purchase good running shoes if you don’t have any. Running outside requires decent shoes. You’ll help prevent injury and your feet will thank you for it.
• Dress for success - invest in running clothes that wick away sweat. You will enjoy your runs more if you dress for the weather.
• Find a track - if you have access to running tracks, try those out before finding a course on the street. You’ll feel safer and still enjoy the outdoors.
• Safety first - have an ID bracelet created with your name and other emergency contact information. Also carry your cell phone to call for help in case of an emergency. Also, run against the flow of traffic and never assume cars will see you. I’ve seen cars nearly hit people crossing the street when they have the right of way so stay alert.

Running on the treadmill isn’t all that bad if you still want to do it more often than running outside. Just remember that the treadmill tends to overestimate speed and your distance so running outside will feel quite different. You can simulate street running on a treadmill by increasing the incline.

Do you run outdoors a lot? What are your tips for people like me who want to break free from the treadmill for awhile? Everyone feel free to comment!

This post is sponsored by:
Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Men���?�s Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. Turbulence Training for Fat Loss

Note: If you are not reading this at www.tryingfitness.com then you are reading a scraped feed!

Visit www.tryingfitness.com and subscribe by email or by using the RSS feed.

If you are a big water drinker, chances are you carry around multiple types of plastic water bottles from the car to the gym, to work, etc. I was watching the morning news today and there was a discussion about the possible dangers of plastic water bottles. I had heard of this before but seeing it brought up again made me want to take a deeper look.

It seems that the culprit in these plastic bottles is a chemical called BPA which stands for Biphenol A. This chemical has been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, and endocrine damage in animals. There has not been enough research conducted as to whether BPA is dangerous to humans, however, it is understandable to be concerned.

There are various types of plastic bottles on the market which all range in safety levels according to the type of material used in manufacturing. Let’s take a look at some of the most common types:

Bottled Water
From what I have read and watched on the news, the typical bottled water is probably the safest bottle of them all. It’s a good idea to only use these bottles once.

Nalgene Bottles
These bottles do contain BPA but are still considered safe, however, it is recommended to use the BPA-free versions.

Soft Plastic Bottles
These are your general squeeze (sports) bottles you often use on a bicycle or while running. These are BPA-free but should be washed regularly.

Stainless Steel Bottles
These bottles are probably the best choice since they contain no plastic at all. They are much longer lasting and are dishwasher safe.

BPA-Free Bottles
Considering these bottles don’t contain BPA, they are considered safe, but they are still very new on the scene and will probably undergo more testing.

You may have also heard about the flipping your bottles over and checking out the number on the bottom. The numbers range from 1 to 7. Bottles with a 7 on the bottom are the ones to avoid unless the bottle is labeled BPA-free.

In the end, the choice is yours whether you are truly concerned about the possible health risks or not. I tend to play it on the safe side when it comes to health related issues. What do you think? Are you concerned about the plastic bottle drama?

This post is sponsored by:
Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Men���?�s Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. Turbulence Training for Fat Loss

Note: If you are not reading this at www.tryingfitness.com then you are reading a scraped feed!

Visit www.tryingfitness.com and subscribe by email or by using the RSS feed.

If you are a big water drinker, chances are you carry around multiple types of plastic water bottles from the car to the gym, to work, etc. I was watching the morning news today and there was a discussion about the possible dangers of plastic water bottles. I had heard of this before but seeing it brought up again made me want to take a deeper look.

It seems that the culprit in these plastic bottles is a chemical called BPA which stands for Biphenol A. This chemical has been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, and endocrine damage in animals. There has not been enough research conducted as to whether BPA is dangerous to humans, however, it is understandable to be concerned.

There are various types of plastic bottles on the market which all range in safety levels according to the type of material used in manufacturing. Let’s take a look at some of the most common types:

Bottled Water
From what I have read and watched on the news, the typical bottled water is probably the safest bottle of them all. It’s a good idea to only use these bottles once.

Nalgene Bottles
These bottles do contain BPA but are still considered safe, however, it is recommended to use the BPA-free versions.

Soft Plastic Bottles
These are your general squeeze (sports) bottles you often use on a bicycle or while running. These are BPA-free but should be washed regularly.

Stainless Steel Bottles
These bottles are probably the best choice since they contain no plastic at all. They are much longer lasting and are dishwasher safe.

BPA-Free Bottles
Considering these bottles don’t contain BPA, they are considered safe, but they are still very new on the scene and will probably undergo more testing.

You may have also heard about the flipping your bottles over and checking out the number on the bottom. The numbers range from 1 to 7. Bottles with a 7 on the bottom are the ones to avoid unless the bottle is labeled BPA-free.

In the end, the choice is yours whether you are truly concerned about the possible health risks or not. I tend to play it on the safe side when it comes to health related issues. What do you think? Are you concerned about the plastic bottle drama?

This post is sponsored by:
Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Men���?�s Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. Turbulence Training for Fat Loss

Note: If you are not reading this at www.tryingfitness.com then you are reading a scraped feed!

Visit www.tryingfitness.com and subscribe by email or by using the RSS feed.

7 Weight Loss Transformation Secrets

By Craig Ballantyne, author of Turbulence Training for Fat Loss

Millions of men and women want to lose weight because they are sick of their excess body fat and

7 Weight Loss Transformation Secrets

By Craig Ballantyne, author of Turbulence Training for Fat Loss

Millions of men and women want to lose weight because they are sick of their excess body fat and

Canadians and Americans arenâ�?��?�t so different: Tim Hortons and Dunkinâ�?��?� Donuts, poutine and disco fries, professional hockey and professional wrestling — thereâ�?��?�s some truth behind that â�?��?51st stateâ�?��? joke. But despite our similarities, thereâ�?��?�s a glaring difference between us that we canâ�?��?�t seem to reconcile: health insurance.

This year, in which a Canadian federal election preceded the American one by just three weeks, serves as a case in point.

Throughout the Canadian campaign, the mere mention of expanding the role of private insurance set off public apoplexy. During the American campaign, a Canadian-style single-payer system has been deemed equally ludicrous as its converse in Canada, the thinking apparently being that letting the government run the health insurance plan is tantamount to asking a five-year-old to change your car���?�s oil: it���?�s sure to be messy, expensive, frustrating, and somebody���?�s likely to get hurt.

Both the American and Canadian interpretations of health insurance reform can���?�t be correct. Where���?�s the truth in all of this?

It has been suggested for years that in reality neither of us is right, that some sort of ideal compromise existed. Eventually the United States and Canada would, after experimentation and study revealed an enlightened pathway, reach an effective, sensible equilibrium between private and public health insurance — or so the theory went. This notion is known in comparative health policy studies as â�?��?convergence theoryâ�?��? and was especially popular in the early â�?��?�90s, when the Democrats were ascendant and Hillary Clinton was hard at work on drafting legislation to create a national health plan for the U.S.

We all remember what happened: the plan was destroyed by a combination of its own complexity, dissent within the Democratic Party, private-industry lobbying, and Republican scaremongering. The last fifteen years saw Canadian and American health policy remain as far apart as ever.

But, lo and behold, convergence theory was back again this year as the Democratic primaries saw the return of talk about universal healthcare and insurance mandates from Clinton and John Edwards. For a time it looked as though Canada was back in vogue in Washington. But University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor Jon Oberlander, the author of the 2003 book The Political Life of Medicare, recently warned me about the turn of events, ���?There might be more of a convergence in rhetoric than in reality.���? Right he was. Barack Obama won the nomination and the party once again adopted a relatively centrist platform in the general election.

Canada���?�s single-payer approach is far from perfect, of course. Wait times are dangerously long in some cases, remuneration for physicians is lower than in the U.S., and medical technology lags behind. But for all its shortcomings, the overall cost of delivering healthcare is half in Canada what it is in the U.S. while health outcomes and mortality rates are essentially equivalent, and the discrepancy in healthcare quality between rich and poor is vastly reduced in the Canadian model.

Nevertheless, the prospect of following the Canadian example has lost what little currency the idea once had in the United States; a Canadian-style schema is as anathema to mainstream politics as ever. McCain���?�s plan would move the U.S. even further still away from Canada. And keeping in mind Obama���?�s modest tax plan has been blasted as Communist, just imagine what a call for universal healthcare would do to him; his campaign realized early on it was political suicide to propose anything like what exists north of the border.

���?There are still a lot of people in the U.S. for whom ���?socialized medicine���?� is still a dirty word,���? Oberlander told me. ���?That���?�s why when John McCain calls Barack Obama���?�s plan ���?socialized medicine���?� the campaign wants to shoot that down immediately. Those are fighting words here.���?

Regardless of who wins on Tuesday, over at least the next four years Canadian healthcare will remain as foreign to Americans as ketchup chips or Bob and Doug McKenzie. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, Canadian forays into private health insurance have been few and far between, and severely limited in scope by existing laws.

In practice, convergence theory looks to have been a failure.

Sam Solomon is a Montreal-based journalist (and dual American-Canadian citizen) who writes for Parkhurst Exchange magazine and blogs at Canadian Medicine.

Canadians and Americans arenâ�?��?�t so different: Tim Hortons and Dunkinâ�?��?� Donuts, poutine and disco fries, professional hockey and professional wrestling — thereâ�?��?�s some truth behind that â�?��?51st stateâ�?��? joke. But despite our similarities, thereâ�?��?�s a glaring difference between us that we canâ�?��?�t seem to reconcile: health insurance.

This year, in which a Canadian federal election preceded the American one by just three weeks, serves as a case in point.

Throughout the Canadian campaign, the mere mention of expanding the role of private insurance set off public apoplexy. During the American campaign, a Canadian-style single-payer system has been deemed equally ludicrous as its converse in Canada, the thinking apparently being that letting the government run the health insurance plan is tantamount to asking a five-year-old to change your car���?�s oil: it���?�s sure to be messy, expensive, frustrating, and somebody���?�s likely to get hurt.

Both the American and Canadian interpretations of health insurance reform can���?�t be correct. Where���?�s the truth in all of this?

It has been suggested for years that in reality neither of us is right, that some sort of ideal compromise existed. Eventually the United States and Canada would, after experimentation and study revealed an enlightened pathway, reach an effective, sensible equilibrium between private and public health insurance — or so the theory went. This notion is known in comparative health policy studies as â�?��?convergence theoryâ�?��? and was especially popular in the early â�?��?�90s, when the Democrats were ascendant and Hillary Clinton was hard at work on drafting legislation to create a national health plan for the U.S.

We all remember what happened: the plan was destroyed by a combination of its own complexity, dissent within the Democratic Party, private-industry lobbying, and Republican scaremongering. The last fifteen years saw Canadian and American health policy remain as far apart as ever.

But, lo and behold, convergence theory was back again this year as the Democratic primaries saw the return of talk about universal healthcare and insurance mandates from Clinton and John Edwards. For a time it looked as though Canada was back in vogue in Washington. But University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor Jon Oberlander, the author of the 2003 book The Political Life of Medicare, recently warned me about the turn of events, ���?There might be more of a convergence in rhetoric than in reality.���? Right he was. Barack Obama won the nomination and the party once again adopted a relatively centrist platform in the general election.

Canada���?�s single-payer approach is far from perfect, of course. Wait times are dangerously long in some cases, remuneration for physicians is lower than in the U.S., and medical technology lags behind. But for all its shortcomings, the overall cost of delivering healthcare is half in Canada what it is in the U.S. while health outcomes and mortality rates are essentially equivalent, and the discrepancy in healthcare quality between rich and poor is vastly reduced in the Canadian model.

Nevertheless, the prospect of following the Canadian example has lost what little currency the idea once had in the United States; a Canadian-style schema is as anathema to mainstream politics as ever. McCain���?�s plan would move the U.S. even further still away from Canada. And keeping in mind Obama���?�s modest tax plan has been blasted as Communist, just imagine what a call for universal healthcare would do to him; his campaign realized early on it was political suicide to propose anything like what exists north of the border.

���?There are still a lot of people in the U.S. for whom ���?socialized medicine���?� is still a dirty word,���? Oberlander told me. ���?That���?�s why when John McCain calls Barack Obama���?�s plan ���?socialized medicine���?� the campaign wants to shoot that down immediately. Those are fighting words here.���?

Regardless of who wins on Tuesday, over at least the next four years Canadian healthcare will remain as foreign to Americans as ketchup chips or Bob and Doug McKenzie. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, Canadian forays into private health insurance have been few and far between, and severely limited in scope by existing laws.

In practice, convergence theory looks to have been a failure.

Sam Solomon is a Montreal-based journalist (and dual American-Canadian citizen) who writes for Parkhurst Exchange magazine and blogs at Canadian Medicine.

Interesting to read the comments, which is not surprisingly generating some polarizing views.

More patients will be faced with whether to follow their doctor to non-traditional primary care models. As cash-only practices continue to generate media attention, the public will revolt as their already limited access to traditional generalist care is dwindling. Hopefully their voices will be loud enough to incite change.

That’s important as those in charge listen to voters, not doctors.

Interesting to read the comments, which is not surprisingly generating some polarizing views.

More patients will be faced with whether to follow their doctor to non-traditional primary care models. As cash-only practices continue to generate media attention, the public will revolt as their already limited access to traditional generalist care is dwindling. Hopefully their voices will be loud enough to incite change.

That’s important as those in charge listen to voters, not doctors.

When tested for empathy, medical students at baseline generally scored higher than their nonmedical peers. But, as medical students experienced more burnout, there was a corresponding drop in the level of empathy toward patients.

Pauline Chen writes about the possibility that the more empathic potential doctors may be the ones most vulnerable to burnout in medical school.

It’s why more support is needed to help medical students through the grueling training process.

For those suffering through the pre-clinical years of school, I found that things got much better during clinical rotations the last two years.

And even though residency was tough hours-wise, I had a good time as it was much closer to what I envisioned myself doing today.

When tested for empathy, medical students at baseline generally scored higher than their nonmedical peers. But, as medical students experienced more burnout, there was a corresponding drop in the level of empathy toward patients.

Pauline Chen writes about the possibility that the more empathic potential doctors may be the ones most vulnerable to burnout in medical school.

It’s why more support is needed to help medical students through the grueling training process.

For those suffering through the pre-clinical years of school, I found that things got much better during clinical rotations the last two years.

And even though residency was tough hours-wise, I had a good time as it was much closer to what I envisioned myself doing today.

Both government run single payer systems and our current insurance system have a common serious problem In both systems, the patient has no financial investment in decision making. Taking financial decision making away from patients leads them to want more, regardless of true value. Patients want CT scans for everything. They want the fancy DTC advertised drugs. They want to see a subspecialist whether that subspecialist would likely help them or not.

I’m not saying that patients should completely be consumers, which they are not equipped to do in hospitalized or emergency settings.

But having the patient bear some financial responsibility in non-urgent conditions is essential going forward. Specifically, cases where patients desire care above and beyond what is needed.

Wanting an MRI when a physician deems it unnecessary, or insisting on brand name medications when generics are appropriate for instance.

Both government run single payer systems and our current insurance system have a common serious problem In both systems, the patient has no financial investment in decision making. Taking financial decision making away from patients leads them to want more, regardless of true value. Patients want CT scans for everything. They want the fancy DTC advertised drugs. They want to see a subspecialist whether that subspecialist would likely help them or not.

I’m not saying that patients should completely be consumers, which they are not equipped to do in hospitalized or emergency settings.

But having the patient bear some financial responsibility in non-urgent conditions is essential going forward. Specifically, cases where patients desire care above and beyond what is needed.

Wanting an MRI when a physician deems it unnecessary, or insisting on brand name medications when generics are appropriate for instance.