4. From the Watershed into Universal Access to ABC-STEEEP
- T Michael White MD FACP
- Oct 17
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 21
ABC-STEEEP
Affordable Basic Compassionate
Safe Timely Efficient Effective Equitable
Patient-Centered Care
Letters to the File
T Michael White MD FACP
******
4. From the Watershed into Universal Access to ABC-STEEEP
“Watershed: a point in a chain of events at which an important change occurs.
A crossroads.
A turning point.”
Meriam Webster Dictionary
The WhiteHouse on the Belleair Bluff
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Dr. Mike,
A letter to the file…
As always, it is imperative for you to tell yourself the truth. Here is what you think you know…
Your concern for health care is well-founded. United States health care is a non-system that is evolving uncontrolled/unmanaged into ever-increasing disarray (the less polite may observe it to be devolving into a hot mess). .
This non-system is a dispassionate paradox that provides great care for some and no care for others.
The answer is clear to you ꟷ our fine country must, as infrastructure, provide universal access to Affordable, Basic Compassionate Safe, Timely, Efficient, Effective, Equitable Patient-Centered Care (ABC-STEEEP). .
Your efforts to date have received only tepid attention and less support. Reasons? Honestly telling yourself the truth:
You, an ordinary, should be retired health care administrator, clinician, consultant and teacher ꟷ never accused of being the sharpest tool in the shed ꟷ lack requisite gravitas;
Citizens with good care (who are positioned to make a difference) are unaware;
Citizens with good care (who are positioned to make a difference) are aware but just do not care (the “I got mine” syndrome); and/or
Citizens (who are positioned to make a difference) are aware and truly care but, overwhelmed by complexity, conclude nothing can be done.
Truth again told, having tried your best, this complex circumstance leaves, even you, discouraged and dejected.
So, you find yourself in a watershed. After a book (Affordable Basic Health Care for All --- An American Health Care System Charter) and a year of research (https://www.fixingushealthcare.com/) find you certain that you are right, you now have to make a decision:
Should you cease and desist and give up advocating for necessary change (i.e., stand down and join the beach, boat, doctor visits, gym, golf, piano, pool, happy hour, out to dinner set), or
Should you soldier forward and demonstrate that universal access to ABC-STEEEP can and must be a reality?
To make this decision, you have done that thing you do. You have dispassionately brainstormed your decision-making with mentors you trust and then diagramed a force field analysis. Forthcoming conclusions are clear:
There is a problem;
Change is necessary; and
If not you, who?
So, after review, you are professionally and personally obligated to humbly flow from this watershed into important, meaningful work that may make a difference ꟷ the enablement of universal access to Affordable, Basic, Compassionate, Safe, Timely, Efficient, Effective, Equitable, Patient-Centered Care (ABC-STEEEP).
Going forward, may you always find yourself traversing calm seas with wind in your sails. (420 words)
Respectfully submitted with fondest personal regards,
Dr. Mike
You may leave an anonymous comment without username and email ꟷ please do. Please share your wisdom, insights and perceptions (your reality) about what I have right, wrong and/or omitted. I will be delighted to hear from you as this draft and subsequent chapters will be significantly enhanced.
Dr. Mike
Letters to the File
Introduction to ABC-STEEEP ꟷ Letters to the File
About Dr. Mike
3. My Perfect Health Care ꟷ An Uncomfortable Paradox
4. From the Watershed into Universal Access to ABC-STEEEP
(more to follow)
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