So close, yet so far

The healthcare in the US often gets a bad reputation. I can understand why a lot of the time, people do not like the healthcare system in the US, since there are certain aspects which are not the best. However, I think that along with the negative side of the healthcare system, we should also try to look at some positive aspects of the system. The healthcare system in the US wouldn't be as successful as it is today without having some good aspects about it. It can't all be bad - right?

One of the examples I always try to look at both sides of is the quality of care and the professionals we have available in our healthcare system. In general, I would say us as Americans are pretty lucky when it comes to the options and quality of providers we have. The US has some of the best schools for healthcare, and amazing healthcare professionals that are doing some remarkable work in the field. Along with that, we have some of the world's leading medical facilities, and some cutting edge research and technology that is only going to get better with time. It's crazy to me that some surgeries are done by robots, and who knows how far that will progress in the future. 

Now, will all that being said, even though all of this exists in the healthcare system, it's not always easily accessible. On the surface, it seems great. We have all these advancements happening, and really smart people going to school and getting degrees and doing things we probably would have never thought possible in the past. However, if you don't have the best insurance or financial means, you can't even get close to the top tier healthcare professionals out there. They are out of reach to a lot of Americans. For example, Michigan Medicine is a renowned hospital, and people from all over come here to get healthcare. But, for some people who live in Ann Arbor, cost of healthcare from MM is too much. So, even though they may live right down the street from the best hospital in Michigan, they might be unable to receive care there due to financial means. It's unfortunate, but it's a business - and it's always trying to find the highest paying customers. 

That was just one of the many things I think about when it comes to healthcare in the US. I like to try to see the positives, and appreciate all the wonderful work that's been done in healthcare in the US. But I do need to remind myself that it's not all sunshine and rainbows, and we still have a lot of work to do to make our healthcare system the best it can be.

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