Public Forum Letter

It is disappointing that an attempt at educating the public about the health system is so miscast ("Don't blame patients," Forum, Oct. 29). A closer look at Regence's WhatsTheRealCost.org shows a range of engaging features, from debunking myths to game-style modules.

Utahns are healthier and use fewer medical resources per capita than the rest of the country. But the rest of the country is on a different track. Overuse of medical resources is well-documented. Two decades of study by the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care identify tremendous variation in treatment with no improved outcomes. The Journal of the American Medical Association has published articles about this problem, and the June 1, 2009, issue of The New Yorker became required reading for Congress.

True reform starts with each of us, individually, and each segment of the health care industry re-examining what we do, why, and how we can change to improve the outcomes of care.