As has been emphasized in this chapter, these calculations are
occasionally educated guesses, but are far more scientific than anything
that has ever been proposed. At the time of this writing, as we approach
the year 2020, we, American citizens, politicians, employers, medical
device manufacturers, hospital administrators, and healthcare workers,
must shake off our somnolence and deal with the fact that implant-
oriented surgery is expensive, particularly when things go wrong. I am
fortunate to have a very busy total shoulder replacement practice, and I
delight in the implant revolution, humbly recognizing the pioneers who,
with great insight and courage, imagined the synthesis of metals, drugs,
plastics, and dexterous technique that allows surgeons to so powerfully
free our patients from the necessities and miseries of life. But our
conversation about healthcare reform and the future of medicine must be
based upon facts—and the fact is that by 2020 there will be over
17,000,000 implant-oriented operations in America.
marcin
(Marcin)
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