Cut the Politics-Let’s Get REAL with Health Care Reform

Cut the Politics-Let's Get REAL with Health Care Reform (Image from CBS News)

Health Care Reform, a quite complex array of pros and cons, government involvement, corporate ownership and emotional citizenry. Everyone has a take on it and within these past few weeks these highly vibrant responses has made it quite hard to understand what the reform is really about. I have searched endlessly listening to NPR speakers, reading several blogs and reading Rob and Meghan’s posts.  My personal stance is, the current system is proof that we need some what of a government lead direction however how much are we willing to hand over is at stake. I wanted to learn more about the work that Congress is doing with the legislation and I was disappointed to hear the house reached August recess and the senate is to follow. On the other hand, I realized that this is the perfect time to pause and learn about everything that has happened so far in the process.

I’m sitting in my living room looking at two pieces of paper that my mom showed me earlier today. The papers were faxed to her from the desk of Congressman Tom Price (R GA). My mom questioned if this could be a scam. I looked at the papers and on it is a message with my mother’s name and the subject as: New Advisors-Press Release. At first that is all I looked at, I tossed the papers aside saying this republican congressman probably wants to put you on a list so don’t bother. But tonight, I am intrigued by this and wanted to follow up on this not so mysterious fax papers. The fax cover letter has the following message printed in perfect hand writing (but definitely done by a computer):

(my mom’s name),

Because of your invaluable experience, we are asking you to represent Ohio as a consultant on the Physicians’ Council for Responsible Reform.

We’re running a press release to honor the achievements of you and other concerned physicians like you. Please call me with your approval (listed number).

I follow to the second page and things clear up even more. One thing I notice right away is the bottom of the page. There are a list of doctors names and in the middle column my mom’s name is there circled and handwritten-your name here. So maybe the republicans and more specifically the “physicians’ council for responsible reform” is really taking a stance by hearing from the real experts- I had hope. Yet, I once again used my handy google search engine to discover a much similar description of this letter on the Wonk Room. If you are not familiar with the Wonk Room it is a blog run project by the Center for American Progress. The Center for American Progress is a non-partisan run organization in Washington D.C. Coincidentally; I met with them a week ago while in D.C!

This was definitely what I suspected, that bit of hope died after I read the blog. Unfortunately, many congressional members both democrat and republican are using this time to recruit professionals for their list of credentials, while, what they really should be realizing that this is no time for the game of politics. SO END IT NOW. While they are there wanting to win one for the team, many of us uninsured or poorly insured are suffering with high payments and little improvement to our health. When you have doctors like my mother receiving letters like this of course they may not have the time to do the background research (they are doing more important things like seeing sick patients). So if Congress really wants to voice the stance of millions of health practitioners in the United States, they should start with a conjoined effort of gathering everyone for the talk- similar to the beer talk Obama recently had, except completely different story. I leave you with this, while you may be healthy now (knock on wood) and may not bother thinking about health care, think again:

Heart Disease-

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both women and men.

• In 2003, approximately 37% of adults reported having two or more of six risk factors for heart disease and stroke (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, current smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity).⁷
• It is estimated that about 47% of cardiac deaths occur before emergency services or transport to a hospital.⁴

Cancer-

According to the CDC, cancer is ranked the second leading cause of death in the United States. The total number of deaths estimated is at 559, 888, deaths per 100,000 population numbers at 187.0.

• Numbers of noninstitutionalized adults who have ever been diagnosed with cancer: 16.4 million
• Percent of noninstitutionalized adults who have ever been diagnosed with cancer: 7.3%

Diabetes-

Over 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes that’s over 7.8 percent of the population and this number is only growing(National Institute of Health). Out of the 23.6 million, 17.9 million are diagnosed where as 5.7 million are undiagnosed, without knowledge of their diabetes these 5.7 million will further deviate their health and lead them to death. The estimated cost of diabetes direct and indirect is $174 billion, the direct medical costs is at $116 billion.

• After adjusting for population age and sex differences, average medical expenditures among people with diagnosed diabetes were 2.3 times higher than what expenditures would be in the absence of diabetes.
• Indirect costs: $58 billion—disability, work loss, premature mortality

Curing the Hollowness of the Unkind

What if we changed history? What if we went back in time and made the founding fathers of America into brutal and vicious self interested dictators? Today, I would not be at my laptop I would not be sitting at the comfort of my home but rather I’d be a 22 year old that has already lived half her life seeing war and death amongst the sorrow of her country.

I create this scenario not because I’m crazy but I’d like you to see yourself for a second in that world. What if you were that child in Beth Ann’s picture holding a gun? Who would you become under corrupt governance? These are only questions that we can explore and discuss further but in reality you are still who you are sitting where you are and you won’t be drastically changing to that degree. However, I believe the reason we do not connect with those ‘others’ in the world who may not be in sight of us is due to this concept of “encountering the other”. We do not care nor do we empathize with those who we do not know. So it comes to be a difficult case of curing the hollowness of the unkind.

Question-Action-Shape-Inspire

Millions out there are writing and conceptualizing theories on how to better the world. Those same individuals are looking at some of these statistics to drive their theories;

“Besides lack of appropriate health care and nutrition, HIV/AIDS is a major health issue in Africa. Due to sufficient educational programs and financial resources, the number of HIV/AIDS cases has risen to tragic heights in Africa. In some countries, such as Zambia and Botswana, 20% or more of the adult population is believed to be infected with HIV. Tragically, the children of Africa suffer the most from this epidemic. Millions of children have been left orphaned because of the disease. ” –Africa Cultural Center

“With the highest birthrate of any continent, Africa is projected to grow to two billion by 2050. Women in sub-Saharan Africa bear an average of 6 children each. Life expectancy is low (Sierra Leone: 34 years, Zambia: 37 years, other countries: 40–49 years) compared to the developed countries.”-Africa Cultural Center

I’m not here to make up another theory on how to solve these problems nor do I have the knowledge to make any significant change but I am here to offer some friendly action steps. First, ask questions of things you don’t know about. For example, with our blog every week we choose a theme, this theme may be something that some of us know nothing about but it drives us to research and learn something new. This past week I have continuously read articles and learned new facts. Second, take action join an organization you don’t necessarily need to travel across the ocean to help out, you can help from here see what you can do locally to help out. Third, after taking action and signing up it’s important to stay persistent with your work meaning see how you can make something out of the knowledge you have gained and the work that you have done. At this point you may be ready to do something on your own. Remember that you may start with so little but you may gain so much and through this advancement of knowledge and experience you may be capable to inspire others to do something as well. Finally, be proud of the work that you do  and educate others about the various issues and disparities going on in Africa. You may find this to be very simple and something very easy to come up with but the important question is can you put it in action?