USD Magazine, Summer 1992

Recently, Mother Teresa, who works and lives in Third World countries, became ill in Mexico. She was not treated in Mexico or even Chula Vista but was brought to La Jolla. Now, of course, I have no knowledge of her medical condition or the possibility that she needed specialized treatment only available at Scripps Clinic, but this has the appearance of what we typically do in America-seek what we think is the best health care available. In a democracy, we tend to think that everyone, regardless of ability to pay, has the right to the best health care money can provide. We abhor the thought of limits or rationing of health care. Our country has the research, technology and delivery system to keep providing more and more expensive and possibly unnecessary health care. The health-care indus– try is big business, and it is set up to consume all of the resources we are willing to provide. As a society we need to ask some very important questions, such as: What kind of life should we expect medicine to help us achieve? What standard of health does a society need? Who pays for health care, and whose responsibili– ty is it? If we do not look at these questions as a society and put some realistic limits on health care, then, in my opinion, we will be spending too many resources on health care that should go toward other societal needs. Thank you for the interesting article. Judith Munoz Director of Human Resources, University of San Diego

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Only the Best

As a human resources professional and one who studies, writes and speaks on the topic of health-care issues, I found Dianne Ludlam's article on health-care costs of inter– est (Spring 1992). She did a good job of explaining the problems and some of the causes. I certainly agree with my colleagues Miriam Roth– man's and Janet Rodgers' statements that people need to take responsibili– ty for their own health care by liv– ing a healthy lifestyle and question– ing costly diagnostic and treatment procedures. These are activities that can impact on the total cost of health. However, what the article did not explain and what I believe is the essential cause of our exorbitant health-care costs is the American attitude toward the delivery of health care. We look at health care from an individualistic, personal point of view rather than from the broad view of what our society can afford. People become very emotion– al when their health or the health of a loved one is threatened, and seek the very best treatment they can afford, even if they are probably incapable of determining what is quality treatment.

An 'Ethereal Fireball'

I recently received the spring issue of USD Magazine and wanted to tell you I thoroughly enjoyed the article "Soul Provider," featuring Sister Alicia Sarre. My recollections of Sister Sarre stem from a course in . "Spanish for the Health Profession– al" she instructed back in 1982. She was a single-minded "fireball" of a nun then, who inspired me to learn a language that has proven invalu– able in my profession. Your article captured the true spirit of an ethere– al, saintly individual who was and still is Sister Sarre. Strong work! Michael Saffian '82, M.D. Cleveland, OH