Tomorrow (April 27) officially begins my Eisenhower Fellowship. I will meet with Sophia Schlette (@SophiaSchlette), an international health policy expert who advises health care decision-makers on how to transfer health systems knowledge, good practice, and innovative approaches across countries. I have read her work extensively over the last few months and have been impressed by her insights. I'm thrilled to have a one-on-one with her.
Next, I will have an opportunity to speak with members of the Medical Malpractice Committee of the Medical Association North Rhine, a professional association for the approximately 56,500 doctors in that part of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Given what a contentious issue medical malpractice and tort law is in the U.S. and the degree to which it incentivizes physicians to practice "defensive medicine," I will be eager to learn how the Germans have confronted this challenge.
I will conclude the day with representatives of MediNetz. This organization seeks to help some of the four hundreds of thousands without a valid residence permit in Germany. According to MediNetz, undocumented immigrants in Germany have only a very limited access to health care. The organization seeks to work with legislators to find a lasting solution to this challenge. While engaging in the political process, MediNetz addresses the practical issues of people without access to care by running a limited clinic (every Monday from 18:00 to 20:00 on the premises of the Caritas center Delbrêl in Mainz Neustadt). Services are provided free of charge exclusively by volunteer doctors. Drug, laboratory costs, and, if necessary, hospitalizations are funded by donations and by patient contributions. I am looking forward to learning more about MediNetz and to compare their model with the one used by Casa de Salud in St. Louis.
If any readers have particular lines of questioning they would like me to pursue or just general thoughts about these topics, please post a reply.
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