This is an excellent review and write-up on healthcare consumerism. Thanks for including me.

consumer-driven healthcare (CDHC) argue that it will give consumers more power to control their medical destinies and improve quality, some believe that it is being abused.

Some proponents of consumerism are opposed to single-payor healthcare. This is because they believe government-mandated coverage will wrest control from consumers

proponents of consumerism want to place more financial responsibility on patients because healthcare costs continue to rise. However, some are bemoaning the consequences of consumer-driven healthcare.

Boosters of consumer-driven healthcare say that patients cannot become true consumers without education and information.

Are patients really ready for consumer-driven healthcare? These medical bloggers suggest they are not.

For example, physicians are the most educated healthcare consumers you are likely to ever encounter. Yet, even Medpundit was a bit daunted by her recent visit to the emergency room on behalf of her son.

Amy Tenderich of Diabetes Mine shares the latest in her ongoing effort to become an insulin pumper. Tenderich is a very informed consumer, but is still stymied by insurance company-related bureaucracy and red tape.

In a post that’s not for the faint of heart (or, squeamish), Dr. G. C. George asks why are his Malaysian patients taking so long to seek treatment?