Per Christopher’s request, I began looking into Facebook groups that would possibly be interested in taking a look at our new change:healthcare site debuting sometime in late February. He and I figured that some young active minds, looking to support “Universal Healthcare” or at the very least change in the system, could have the potential to provide some great feedback.

So far, sadly, my generation has proven both of us wrong. I wanted to feature a response from a gentleman (graduating ‘08 - I just graduated in May ‘07) that seems to put my optimism in check. I had originally created a post in the group “Universal Healthcare” titled “Providing and Encouraging Access - Health 2.0″.

This is what I presented to the group:

“Hi everyone. I work for a company called change:healthcare inc. We produce tools to help healthcare consumers become educated on the confusing healthcare system of this country.

We are coming out with a free site in February and would love some feedback. If you are interested in taking a look around the site and providing us with your opinion before it launches, please email me at kwelty@changehealthcare.com - subject: facebook. Thanks!”

I wanted to feature this gentleman’s response by the name of Ethan Copitch. I don’t believe that his opinion is representative of my generations feelings toward Health 2.0 but rather may serve as a reassuring sign that my generation (many of those who are probably still skirting by on their parent’s insurance plans) needs a reality check on what Universal Healthcare and changing our system really means.

He said: “I took a quick look through the page and from what I can see it seems that you are trying to help, but at the same time failing to do so. Parts of it seem to be out there for the people, and other parts are just there to get hype and in the end they will not help people. Finally, this is just more of the same old system trying to reincarnate itself as something new, when really it is just skirting the real problem and not doing anything about it.

Also, what does this have to do with Nation health care?”

I responded to him as follows and wanted to share my message to him with others:

“Ethan,

Thanks for taking a look. However, what I was asking was for individuals to test out our new site when a development server becomes available… not our current site.

Hype is not what we are looking for. Solutions on the other hand are. Our healthcare system poses more of a problem to individuals as it is rather than providing them with assistance in making better health care decisions (regarding hospitals, cost effective pharmacies, high quality physicians).

The way to do something about “the same old system” as you reference, is by educating health care consumers. If you were to ask someone how much an office visit costs they are most likely to tell you $20. However thats only the cost of a copayment, not the actual cost of the care they are being provided.

National health care is about providing everyone with access to care. The first step for the majority of Americans with access already is actually taking a step back and sharing their privileges. The less unnecessary care I consume as a healthy 23 year old, the more room there is in the system for others that really need it.

If you think that the government is the answer to our compromised health care system… think again. The best solution is going to come from people making changes in their personal behavior and attempting to share their health care “privilege”.

If you have any further questions/comments feel free to contact me. Thanks!”

So I cannot exactly say that what I propose (in terms of people sharing access and consuming less - ie. creating less “unnecessary” demand) is the right solution in anyway. Yet, I am thinking about ways in which changing my behavior and helping others to do so as well, may play a part… however small. I think in some ways that’s the mentality of Health 2.0 companies.

I want to applaud Ethan Copitch for taking the initiative to look at our current site. I also want to encourage individuals like him who believe in standing up for Universal Healthcare (or whatever their beliefs may be) to shout out from the rooftops that our system needs to change. However I want to remind him that talk is cheap… action, on the other hand, is where effort returns the biggest reward.

Of course comments are always welcome.