A doctor's ideas for cutting health care costs

I have practiced medicine on the front-lines for more than 20 years. This is after my initial 12 years of training at major university medical centers. I have seen the best and worst of my profession in the hospital, doctors' offices and research labs. I have witnessed tragedies and miracles at 3 a.m., holding back my own tears to provide comfort to a grieving friend or family member.

There is nothing I would rather do than help my patients improve their health and comfort the ill. However, for the first time in my career, I am concerned about the future of our health care system.

Make no mistake, we do need reform. Quality care is expensive. We need to get better value and cut costs. However, we do not need to wreck the best health care system in the world. If you are sick you will do best in our present system.

We need to cut costs and make care available and affordable. Transferring the responsibility to the government is not the solution. Government does well at protecting us, and oversight. Government is not able to provide good service at the best price. This is where the private sector excels.