I agree with you. The more marketing the company is doing the more its chance of success. The number of e-patient are growing day by day but the need of doctor does not disappear from this, E-patient forums just give you an second opinion.

So,, here’s one of your questions “I wonder what the effect will be on our bloated, overpriced, unresponsive system when people discover that they can handle 95% of things without a doctor if they do their own research. Or at least handle it without insurance, at a lower cost than insurance.”

This is sooo easy to answer. In a word, MARKETING! Sorry to be even more cynical than your post, but can we actually believe in this day and age (especially if you are a doc with any experience with Pharma) that MousetrapA wins market share over MousetrapB because it’s a better mousetrap? No way! Just as MeToo Drug A gains marketshare over MeToo Drug B based on sales force, so the capture of that lucrative healthcare consumer dollar will be based on marketing. The more I write on this comment, the more I think it merits it’s own entry. (I’ll look for an economist to tackle it)

Study: Medical groups seeing fewer patients during recession

This is feeling grim. Survey of 505 family physicians…. “54% [of respondents] said they were seeing fewer patients since January 2008, and 73% reported seeing more uninsured patients. … 71% reported providing more uncompensated care. … Also saw signs that patients’ health was being directly affected by cost issues.”

Related Articles on that post:
Recession hits large hospitals hard
Recession causing diabetics to cut back on care
Family members of critically ill patients at risk because of economy

So yeah, let’s get ready for a LOT of people who want to find health info on their own.

Maybe that’ll lead to the overinflated part of the industry collapsing, who knows. And if we find out how much we can do on our own, then when the recession ends, that part of the industry may never recover.

I was on a conference call yesterday where someone was bemoaning the mass exodus of people from health insurance. Well, good: if those (well-meaning?) SOBs can’t provide anything that’s worth what they charge for it, then let’s vote with our feet.

I wonder what the effect will be on our bloated, overpriced, unresponsive system when people discover that they can handle 95% of things without a doctor if they do their own research. Or at least handle it without insurance, at a lower cost than insurance.

Somebody said insurance *company* costs are 1/3 of our healthcare budget. Well, hm, that just happens to equal the amount by which our costs are higher than any other developed nation. Hm.

Sorry if I sound grumpy – I’ve been getting *im*patient lately. Frankly I get irritated when I hear about somebody who couldn’t get competent care at an affordable price.

I heard a few days ago from a guy who became an e-patient simply by educating himself while he was enduring the SIX MONTH wait to see a specialist!

This is ridiculous. Who needs a system that’s overpriced yet says it’s too full to serve us when we’re in need? Ridiculous.