EPISODE 4
The Doctor Is Out
(2/14/2012) We travel to the place where there are more people age 100 and over than anywhere else in the world: Okinawa, Japan. And they're not just living longer there, they're living healthfully and independently into old age. As our nation's age boom begins what secrets can we take away from the old people of Okinawa? Also, in many medical circles, Dr. Donald Berwick’s name is synonymous with “quality.” Doctors and health officials around the globe seek out his advice, and he has been credited with major advances in how healthcare is delivered. In July 2010, President Obama used a recess appointment to put Dr. Berwick in charge of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the little known government agency that just so happens to be one of the most important players in American health care. But as soon as Dr. Berwick arrived in Washington, he became linked with Obamacare, and opponents of the health reform bill pledged to keep him from being confirmed. They called him a rationer and a proponent of socialized medicine, and said he was not qualified for office. Tonight, Dr. Donald Berwick makes his case.
52 min · Feb 14, 2012
TV-14