When a Workplace Has Lost its Way (Mission)

Economists and government officials express increasing alarm about a host of issues including, but not limited to, converging trends of budget deficits, an aging population, increasing longevity, boomer retirements, growing rates of obesity and chronic disease, dramatically increasing medical and long-term care costs, pension defaults and Social Security insolvency, retiree health insurance take-backs, inadequate personal savings, and excessive consumer debt. Employer-based health insurance appears to be destined for collapse, sometimes taking its sponsors into bankruptcy. Many, if not most, Americans are now projected to outlive their assets, health, and independence, without financial or human resources to care for them. Meanwhile, healthcare institutions, often founded with a mission of community health, can appear opportunistic bordering on predatory, oblivious to these threats. Additionally, the government appears entirely unable to tackle tough or complicated issues such as these. In this article, I examine systemic failures of individuals and institutions to take responsibility. I then highlight some who are developing promising solutions to the projected healthcare crisis.