We are watching the unfolding of a health care crisis. Solving this crisis requires a fundamental shift in how we approach health.

Long waiting lists for elective surgery, hospital beds in hall ways, and now Code Purple temporary hospital admission closures. These developments have come after years of reports of doctor and nurse staffing shortages.

Attempted health care crisis solutions have included increased spending, privatization, and doctor immigration. The B.C. Medical Association has successfully negotiated fee increases for medical doctors with the B.C. government. ICBC and WCB have sent their insurance claimants to private surgical facilities in B.C. for some years now. Immigrant medical doctors from South Africa and other countries with modern medical systems have been welcomed to B.C. In spite of these attempts we are still facing a health care crisis.

Pollution, fast foods, street drugs, and our aging population will all increase the demands on our health care system for many years to come. Respiratory ailments from airborne pollutants are on the rise. As documented by the movie “Super Size Me” a diet dominated by fast foods will increase your risk of developing health concerns. The use of street drugs like crystal met is increasing, and along with it is the expected future need of medical services. The incidence of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease increase in our population as a whole as we age, and we have a large number of aging baby boomers entering the time of their life when age related disease risks increase dramatically.

Our health care crisis may not be solved in the near future. I recently accompanied a private pilot in a small plane on a two hour flight north of Kelowna. He commented on how difficult it would be to get medical care if you were stuck in the wilderness we were flying over. I thought to my self how long it will be before we each face the same health risks in a major city due to our medical services crisis.

Your only option is to fundamentally change your approach to health care by taking personal responsibility for your health. Personal health care responsibility is centered on diet, exercise, managing your emotions, and acting early to prevent the development of lifestyle and age related diseases. Personal health care responsibility requires a personal health plan.

Essential elements of a personal health plan:

1. Assemble a team of personal health care professionals to answer your questions, conduct medical tests, and advise you on your health options.

2. Gather predictive health information. Your personal and family health histories, along with genetic tests, are useful in predicting your future health risks.

3. Use laboratory tests, including blood typing, metabolic typing, urine tests, standard blood tests, and Biological Terrain Assessment (BTA) test results to determine your current supplement needs.

4. Use your BTA test results and health risks to determine your ideal diet.

5. Consume adequate water every day.

6. Exercise. Move your body a minimum of one hour per day, every day. Integrate cardiovascular, weight bearing, and core training exercises into your plan.

7. Manage emotional stress. Determine what “is a life worth living” for you, and work towards having it.

Each of us must accept responsibility for our own health by making lifestyle choices that build rather than diminish health. The best way to personally solve the health care crisis is to stay healthy and avoid using the hospital based health care system.