What's going on in the real world

The health care marketplace has worked its magic, inspiring health care providers to transform strategies and operations from often inefficient and costly care and services to streamlined, often cooperative, integrated delivery systems. Transformation--a far better word than reform. The need to "reform" implies past failures, as in "reform school" for the unruly, even wicked child. A "transformation," however, implies re-invention, possibly of something that worked well already. Well, but not well enough. In the case of health care in the United States, even the most jaded observer will agree that our medical care system--including medical and pharmaceutical research and development--is the greatest gift this country has given to itself. Its quality is the benchmark for every society on earth. And yet--Happy New Year! Time moves on, and what worked well can work better, can be perfected, exquisite. It can also be exquisite while affordable.