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Ann Thorac Surg 2001;72:1113-1115
© 2001 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Editorial

Changing the way we think about medical technology policy

David F. Durenbergera,1, Susan Bartlett Footea

a Medical Technology Leadership Forum and National Institute of Health Policy, Washington, DC, and HSRP School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Address reprint requests to the Honorable David F. Durenberger, Medical Technology Leadership Fourm, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 850N, Washington, DC 20004

Presented at the Thirty-fourth Postgraduate Program of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, New Orleans, LA, Jan 28, 2001.

Opportunity and possibility

The 2000 election has provided us opportunity and possibility for changing the way we think about health policy, including medical technology policy. First, the Republican candidate for President won while firmly gripping the "third rail" of American politics—Social Security reform and Medicare reform. He is willing to put tough health and entitlement issues on the table. That is opportunity for reform.

Second, while we have the first Republican President and Congress in nearly 50 years, the margin is so close we must conclude that there is no mandate for any specific solution. It is counterintuitive but also true that the absence of a mandate provides greater opportunity for change. The way this President is managing education reform provides an interesting lesson. The President has invited the people of this country, not just special interests, to join in the debate. He is allowing Republicans and Democrats to participate in the crafting of solutions in Congress. That makes change a real possibility.

Leadership

Opportunity and possibility will not bring us change without leadership. There are three critical components of a good political leader. First, leaders must define themselves. President George W. Bush is quickly defining himself in ways that create hope, expectation, and possibility. He is making one of the smoothest transitions in recent history, despite a 36-day delay in the election results. Unlike many people we know in political leadership, the President and Vice President give the impression that they are comfortable with themselves, confident of their election commitments, and not concerned about how they might be perceived. The President has also defined his values, including compassion, conservative, civility, community, and nation. His consistency provides the means to the desired end—confidence on the part of the public that they know where their president stands.

Second, a leader relates to our needs. This . . . [Full Text of this Article]






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Copyright © 2001 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.