Escape Fire is a term and a documentary. Both are worth knowing about, and just might be the motivational incentive you need.
The term, “escape fire” is an intentional fire ignited by a fire crew, usually in a forest or grassland, to escape a dangerous situation. If a forest-fire crew realizes they might die in an oncoming fire, they can survive by burning out an immediate area, so the original fire can burn past them.
Then, there’s the Escape Fire documentary.
There are wonderful people IN the healthcare system. Despite that:
- 30% of healthcare costs in the U.S. do not actually improve health.
- 75% of American healthcare costs are spent on preventable diseases.
- $1.1 billion was spent lobbying Washington on healthcare between 2009 and 2010.
- Soldiers’ use of prescription drugs has tripled in the last 5 years.
- The more a drug is marketed to physicians, the more likely it is to be prescribed in America.
- The US is 1 of only 2 countries that allow pharma companies to advertise straight to consumers.
- 40% of hospitals have fast food restaurants on their premises.
ESCAPE FIRE: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare tackles one of the most pressing issues in the U.S.: What can be done to save this country’s broken medical system? This summer, I saw this award-winning documentary at the Dallas Film Festival. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.
The film followed compelling human stories, as well as leaders fighting to transform healthcare at the highest levels of medicine, industry, government, and even the U.S. military. What was striking about the film was its ability to skip past the political healthcare debate and go directly to solutions. "ESCAPE FIRE is about a way out. It’s about saving the health of a nation."
One message in Escape Fire was change the incentive and you change the results. In American healthcare, the incentives center on treating disease – treat more disease and make more money. Corporations will always go where the money is.
Beyond compensation, where does your organization focus its incentives?
We know that regular breaks are good for the mind. But are there incentives to take a break? We know fresh food is part of a balanced meal. But is fresh food a compelling option at the workplace? We know regular exercise is important. But are there fitness incentives provided where you work?
Creating an escape fire initiative at work is a dramatic, yet effective way to thrive in a system designed to keep things just the way they are. Institute “Break Bucks” for people to actively ‘sharpen the saw’ with regular breaks. Keep a bowl of fresh fruit and veggies in the break room. Secretly put an apple on your colleague’s desk. Start an exercise team. Set fitness goals together. Keep each other accountable.
One way or another, an escape fire might be the incentive you need.
PS ESCAPE FIRE: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare will be released on October 5th in select theaters, on iTunes, and via Video on Demand. ESCAPE FIRE premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and has gone on to win numerous film festival awards nationwide.
