How Can We Truly “Improve Self-Referral for Maximum Health?”

“You will never amount to very much.” – a Munich schoolmaster to young Albert Einstein, who was having problems with schoolwork

“The secret of education lies in respecting the pupil.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The direction of this Substack essay series is about to change. To this point, I have been teaching some general concepts and ideas. I had to tell you that story, as they say, to tell you this story. I am going to be focusing specifically on what the book Self-Referral/Maximum Health is all about.

This is a teaching of what I would call mission critical information to two groups of people. The first group is anyone who receives medical care as a patient. That should include literally anybody, because sooner or later everyone needs medical care. My emphasis is going to be on (1) how to get healthy and stay healthy, and (2) how to succeed in getting the medical care system to assist you in reaching that goal. This is very practical nuts-and-bolts knowledge that everyone needs to optimize their health in today’s world.

The second group of people who will be getting mission critical information through this teaching is anyone who is a healthcare professional. That includes doctors - generalists and specialists alike; physician assistants; nurse practitioners; physical therapists; nutritionists; nurses; and everyone in medical care administration and planning. I am teaching a new way of defining health and disease and a more complete understanding of how the same road of life can lead either way. We must work together to steer more people toward health and away from disease. You may be initially nonplussed by this but stay with me. Your patience will be rewarded.

With health information all over the Internet, radio, television, streaming services, and email - why would I think I have anything to say about health that would be fresh and useful? That is a more than fair question, especially when it requires you to take some of your valuable time to read and take into your consideration these Substack essays.

I am the same as you - I will NOT waste time with something that is of little use to me, or - worse yet - just gives mediocre information that you have seen and heard elsewhere. I especially loathe those individuals who swear up and down they have the cure for cancer, razor burn, and everything in between. And of course, it is just their opinion and not based on any facts at all.

First, I can speak with some authority. I am Dr. Michael Borger, and I am a Board-Certified Family Practice Physician. I spent over 42 years rendering medical care to people of all ages and both sexes. I worked primarily in my own clinic and at the hospital, although I made a lot of house calls and nursing home visits. I have assisted many major surgeries at the hospital and ran a full-service Emergency Room in my clinic where we offered acute care for laceration repair, fracture management, removal of foreign objects in the eye and body, and many other problems both exotic and mundane.

I worked closely with our city's Emergency Medical Service for many years and helped them to advance from Basic EMT to Intermediate Cardiac Tech EMT to the full Paramedics that we have today. I made many emergency house calls and worked alongside Emergency Medical Service often, making many hospital runs caring for patients in the ambulance. I remember one case where we used the cardiac defibrillator eight times to shock a patient’s stopped heart between home and hospital - and she went on to live 12 beautiful years with her husband in great mental and physical shape and enjoying life. Stories like that make it all worthwhile.

My days in the office were far less colorful but very effective and satisfying. Every day I worked one-on-one with patients just like you. I was never satisfied with simply writing a prescription and getting on to the next patient. We had to deal with what brought you in, but after that my ambitions were much higher. It was my goal to get the patient as healthy as possible.

First, we did a complete health evaluation and identified their health strengths and weaknesses determining their Health Status. Then I worked with them long term to achieve the best health possible. I call that Maximum Health - the very best health that anyone can be while dealing effectively with any health challenges that were present.

I am a veteran of meeting people where they are, making a clear health evaluation, and coming up with an effective battle plan to defeat disease and bring on the best health we can muster – Maximum Health. That desire to help others has never left me - and I do not believe it ever will. Helping others just gets in your blood and becomes a central part of your thinking and doing.

I think this is no accident - God planned it that way, and if each of us try to help the others we will transform this world into a beautiful world of light and love - which is what I think that God has in mind for all of us. Remember - hold fast, stand firm, and persevere!