Does Good Service Mean Self-Service?

A recent Saskatchewan health care experience prompted thoughts about what "good service" means. I got good service, in the sense that the problem was diagnosed, medications were prescribed, and lab tests were performed and interpreted. But, when compared with what happens when I take my car in for service, or when I order food at a restaurant, or when I recently had a house built, I'm shocked at how much management and execution I was required to do myself.

If the "good service" of health care were applied to the others, it seems like I would be asked to buy and install parts in my car, peel potatoes and cook the steaks at the restaurant, and whittle my own kitchen cabinets from a block of wood. Well, it wasn't that bad, but still surprising.

I don't say this to bash health care, since I'm very grateful for the caring assistance I received. But to anyone who thinks that Saskatchewan health care has come anywhere close to truly providing good service, I'd have to disagree.

Perhaps the best health care can aim for is to provide good technical expertise, preferably with a cheerful disposition, while requiring the patient to do things that they really don't have the expertise, experience or even the ability to do. But I think we can do better than that.