Obama Healthcare Comment

The following is taken from a transcript of Obama's press conference last night regarding health care:

"We can pay for it in the short term, but we can also pay for it in the long term. And in fact, there's going to be a whole lot of savings that we obtain from that because, for example, the average American family is paying thousands of dollars in hidden costs in their insurance premiums to pay for what's called uncompensated care, people who show up at the emergency room because they don't have a primary-care physician.

If we can get those people insured and instead of having a foot amputation, because of advanced diabetes, they're getting a nutritionist who's working with them, to make sure that they are keeping their diet where it needs to be, that's going to save us all money in the long-term."

My ears perked up when he said diet. I think naturopathic doctors can provide an invaluable service to any healthcare system, whether it is in the US or here in Canada, specifically Ontario.

In a time when a lot of people say they can't get a family medical doctor, and many have health concerns that are preventable through diet and lifestyle like heart disease and diabetes, NDs can address the changes that need to be made either before a diagnosis or before a medication is needed or while on medication to minimize side effects.

More and more people are coming in to see me that don't have major health concerns but they know that they have a parent or grandparent with heart disease or diabetes and want to do everything they can to live with optimal health. I love it! The integration of naturopathic doctors within a family health team here in Ontario would be beneficial ... just a thought.