Narrative Highlight: R.H. Bartlett

At part of the 50th Anniversary meeting of ASAIO we conducted preliminary exchanges with individuals working in the field of artificial organs. The text below comes from R.H.Bartlett, MD.

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1. Which individual or event do you attribute the greatest historical significance in the advancement of organ replacement devices or machines? Please explain why.
	Realistically, the msot important event was addition of ESRD (End-Stage Renal Disease) to Medicare reimbursement (in large part due to George Schreiner, MD, about 1974-75). This established the entire field of dialysis, nephrology, and transplantation. Also, this proved the problems of government-managed health insurance in the United States and limited any expansion of medicare to other organs.