Durable healthcare -- redesigning a system to work for everyone | Mark Arnoldy | TEDxMileHigh

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. What would it mean to throw out the world "sustainable" when we talk about health care? In this emotional talk, Mark Arnoldy confronts the challenges of modern healthcare in the world's most challenging places, pointing to what's possible when we look at improving results and lowering costs here in the U.S.
Mark Arnoldy leads overall strategy; focuses on building a remarkable team; develops partnerships; and makes sure the team never loses sight that everything is impossible until it isn't for Possible. Prior to Possible, Mark worked closely with a Nepali social entrepreneur for three years to create an innovative way to treat malnourished children, and he helped create two U.S. businesses that fund nutrition programs in Nepal.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@EKristine11]

This talk really hit on a true issue. The way we design our healthcare systems speaks about our identity as a society. that statement has never been more of a truth. we design our health care around what we deem is necessary and needs to be done. we should be focusing on how we can impact people the most and how we can help the people the most of who needs it. which brings the good point, can we design health care systems that meet our moral aspirations? it is not all about the money that he brings the point of. would it help? yes. that child that needs a new liver could bribe the doctor, that mother that needs surgery could get it sooner. however, money will not solve the problem of the type of health care we get now. the care won't improve no matter how much money we throw into it. we have a low value care at such a high cost that most can't even afford to go to the doctor when a problem would arise. that alone, needs to change first.

[@brucepayne7147]

A terrific talk. Arnoldy is right about the failure of the promise of "sustainability." Possible, with its hospital in western Nepal, is pioneering durable health care in human and brilliant ways.

[@snehatamrakar1907]

oh my god its so great to see you in here! i was one of the students you taught in malpi international school haha and now I am in college watching this :)

[@SudeepBSingh]

The journey of thousand miles begins with a single step of determination and commitment...

[@wellbodisalone]

Determination and commitment are key points in this speech.

[@grantwhite4201]

When I first clicked on this video, I had already thought of a few of the constant ideas that people have when talking about improving healthcare. One of them was improving the availability of healthcare, regardless of cost, and sure enough, Mr. Arnoldy covered it. However, Arnoldy approached this topic with something I have not found in other arguments for change, and it’s that he has an idea that focuses on the core of the healthcare system. That core is affordability, and he explains why this should not be a problem. By saying that our current system centers on diagnosing those who can afford treatment, is frustrating to say the least. By proposing a new idea that would help everyone looking for affordable healthcare, Mr. Arnoldy shows beneficence. The action of making treatment available for anyone, the benefits are endless for each individual who previously felt discriminated against. I agree with Arnoldy that healthcare that can be easily obtainable is a necessity, and not a privilege to just those who can afford the high prices currently set.

[@baileyschnell6276]

It was very shocking to me to hear Mark Arnoldy state that paying for medical bills is the leading source of bankruptcy and that healthcare is the driving force pushing 100 million people into extreme poverty every year. Our healthcare system definitely needs to be adjusted and changed to a system that will work for everyone and stop forcing people to pay extremely high medical expenses, causing so many to become bankrupt and in poverty. There are too many challenges involved in our system when it comes to being able to treat a sick person or when a family or individual can't afford treatment. Money is a major cause especially when looking at how much money is also simply wasted by unnecessary treatments and prescriptions each year, when that can very much be preventable. Service charges and fees have changed from generation to generation but even if we are trying to maintain sustainability, what has been done in the past isn't aimed towards this. By pursuing "durable healthcare" and solving for patients regardless of their position in society we would be helping patients and people to stay away from poverty and bankruptcy instead of leading them into it which is very important and should be taken initiative towards.

[@TilakUSA]

Excellently explained. It is touchy, mind blowing and practical. We need this approach.

[@lionofthelight]

Never cease to be amazed by what you do with your life. Great talk Mark. You are truly a blessed and inspirational person.

[@ShashankChaganty]

Very revolutionary talk Sir, I am a medical student born and brought up in Mumbai, India about to embark on my MBBS degree in Birmingham UK and fully support your ambition of providing universal durable healthcare !

[@madieteltow3500]

Mark Arnoldy makes a good point that health care providers should never lose sight and know and believe that everything isn't impossible. There are many challenges throughout modern healthcare in the worlds most challenging places. Improving results could really change healthcare. I agree with Mark Arnoldy when he says "I believe the way we design our healthcare systems, speaks about our identities as a society." He also says that no one would wish a family bankrupt or for a mother to hear there is no treatment for her child. He believes we can create healthcare systems that meet our moral aspirations. I believe money has a lot to do with this because we get low value for high costs. He thinks its a design issue and I'm not sure if it is or not. We need to not waste money on needed proscriptions and unneeded tests and medications. If money wasn't wasted on un needed things then there would be more money for places like Nepal.

[@WhitneyMillikin]

AMAZING words, Mark! I can't believe what an impact you've made! Congrats! This is incredible! I'm proud to say I went to school with you in lil ol' Springtown! ;)

[@cesachin]

Mark... Really terrific talk and makes me feel good to have been associated with Possible Health ( Nyaya :) ) in whatever small ways I could. I look forward to visiting Bayalpata Hospital some day. Good Luck and my best wishes for all your team.

[@adventurerunner11]

An inspiring model for what we could accomplish if we only shifted our paradigmatic foregrounding in the realm of health and education. Keep up the great work Mark. I look forward to seeing more for-impact organizations rise in the coming years.

[@thewhizkid3937]

The education system at this point might as well be indoctrination lol.

[@abiratnagar]

Great approach to Durable rural health care

[@gabrielanagy9536]

Loved your talk Mark! Nice job! You inspire me everyday. I am glad I got to work alongside you for a few years.

[@gabrielanagy9536]

Doing great! Thanks!

[@RDHardesty]

"The way we design our health care systems speaks about our identity as a society." Agreed. I've thought about values which held ancestors together in tribal groups: how many barriers to nurturance did we then tolerate?

[@bendover1009]

So good!!!

[@kennethmoore3783]

I became a physician when medicine was still a profession. Early on, surgeons led the way in promoting fee for service over fee for time. We do 10x more spine surgeries in the US compared to UK with no evidence of improved outcomes. In the US some people receive too little care. Some receive too much care. But even if we do all the right things (healthy life style, avoid unnecessary risks, etc) health care costs will continue to rise exponentially because of new treatments and high tech diagnostic testing. Expanding Medicare may be the right thing to do (my opinion) but total healthcare costs may be prohibitive without some kind of rationing. We should start by limiting/eliminating treatments without evidence of benefit. Eventually, we’ll have to question the wisdom of spending 90% of lifetime medical costs in the last 3 months of life.

[@ujwalthapafoundation]

durable health care , not sustainable health care or mismanaged .. Good one Mark :)

[@bodhach]

wonderful thoughts!

[@fochsylvermakondanagbomagn2387]

Thank you

[@DancerDan4life28]

No one would ever place a mother in a position where she didn’t have a form of treatment for her child, and no one would ever wish bankruptcy upon someone who needed to use all their life savings on medical care that without it could cost them or their family their life. Healthcare systems that can match our morals is extremely important but also important. Billions of dollars were spent on unnecessary prescriptions and treatments, due to the structure of our healthcare system. How is this sustainable? And how is this benefitting the patients when doctors are not trained to individualize as much as they could all because of the way they are compensated? The leading source of bankruptcy is having to pay for medical bills in the United States. I believe this covers more than 1 ethical principle. First and foremost this disrupts any justice a patient could have. How does a patient ever get the care they need if they cannot afford it? How does a family recover from spending all their money on medical bills for one family member leaving no money for the rest? This is all because the healthcare system in the United States is built to make money. It is not only devastating to see, but devastating to realize that many patients in my future may refuse certain treatments because they can’t pay for it, even if it is something lifesaving. This also covers the medical issue of non-maleficence. Are we really doing no harm if we can’t even make the treatments or procedures accessible to those who need it most? We can cause more harm to the individual. This puts stress on the individual and their family when they can’t afford the treatment they need, but also leaves them in a seriously vulnerable spot in which they may end up debilitated by their disease. We are then hindering them from healing from their ailments because they cannot afford it.

[@manoharjoshi1979]

THANKS FOR REPRESENTING NEPALESE HEALTH. But, Possible health care may turn to impossible, if we throw away the word sustainability. But, of course it may be far away. If we feed a fish this is dependency, teach to do fish farming, this leads to durability and teach to catch those fish is sustainability.

[@melaniehurst4642]

I like the speech but healthcare is an issue for all not just people in poverty...Organizations should not be able to profit the way they are off of people illnesses. This may be the reason why people are not being cured because if their illness continues then so does revenue for organizations.

[@g5realestate280]

Nice talk. But it is .... pie in the sky.

[@XSi1entSpartanX]

I like your sentiment, but you cannot ignore the immense cost that such a system would require. Your vision of durable health care requires a gigantic societal paradigm shift that simply isn’t practical by any means other than force.