I hope for the day but I fear the interim transition...these are the same types that run our schools, etc.

I would try to have safety nets started right now with public health nurses and public health hospitals...nurses put all over the place, visiting nurses, vaccinating nurses, nurses assigned to churches and neighborhoods and police stations and schools. They are some of the smartest people around and no-nonsense. They can do 95% of what is needed I bet...will miss some things that a doctor would have caught, and vice versa...but overall very helpful.

Numerous sliding scale clinics for routine and non-catastrophic things.

Mobile clinics for rural areas.

Remember, the most horrible things take place on a battlefield, and they are helped by medics...so we overdepend on way more education than is really needed for the usual bronchitis, broken arm, ear infection etc.

We also overprescribe. If we quit doing that, we could save money (and they know that they shouldn't prescribe antibiotics for some things, like viral illness..oh but the patient requested it..so what? )

We misunderstand diabetes and metabolic syndrome and hypoglycemia which is part of the progression. Much dietary advice is bad. People are going to have to divert some of their junk food money and other money (eventually prescription) into the diets that are good for their metabolisms, not that of the 24 year old dietician. Get a handle on what causes this (genetic factors, too many carbs especially white starches and insufficient exercise) and you can reduce heart problems, and all other sorts of chronic diseases.

Train prisoners who are smart enough etc. to be medical workers..they will have trouble getting jobs when out, and this will help, and they can serve the underserved and go where others are not willing to go perhaps to serve the most needy...you have to be sensible aobut this where drugs are concerned of course, but it can be done.

A good percentage of high school students should be earning medical licenses, such as CNA and be in TRACKS oh yes TRACKS so they can get a two or four year degree expiditiously. With more people getting services and not more servers, things could get bad really fast.

Assume people should pay what they can really pay...not 90% of their social security, but some sliding scale..enough to have the ouch factor but not too bad...people have to take responsibility for aspects of their care, but at the same time avoid the catastrophic things that can occur..a $10,000 limit or so on total amount owed might be OK...

Someone has to say when enough is enough...beautification procedures for good enough looking people...fertility treatments above and beyond pretty minimal corrective surgery etc. Heart transplants for 95 year olds...there will have to be a universal understanding of the fact that we will have limits.

Allow people to pay for what they can above and beyond or instead of. These plans that idiotically tie everyone into government and only government care are no good for anyone.

Lots of scholarships for those who go into public health programs.

Private health should not be killed though. The market should be allowed to have its say for a number of things, including medical advances, wiht public health taking up the slack. mg