Venkatesh Rao

I'm trying to look out for structural/organizational lessons that go beyond the basics like avoiding large gatherings, higher decentralization etc. One that struck me is the perils of specialization in healthcare that leads to 1 contact turning into dozens or more.

When I was growing up, if I fell ill, I'd go see our one family doctor in his clinic (he was also a family friend). Number of contacts 1-2 (if a nurse was involved). Maybe 3 if an X-ray or blood draw was needed.

Now, in the US, even the simplest doctor visit involves 3-4 contact points. The case of the lawyer in NY illustrates this: for a moderately complex healthcare need, you're likely to encounter half a dozen people at *each* escalation as you're passed around and upwards.