On my mind today..... Healthcare.

     Maybe because I am immersed in it most of my waking hours, healthcare is at the front of my mind today. Its good, its bad, and boy is it ugly. I think all people deserve to get care they need, just as I think that everyone physically able should have to contribute to their own upkeep and our society as a whole.
     The bible, if I recall correctly, points out that man should enjoy his food, but also his work. I have, over the years seen a lot of people who didn't get care they needed when something could have been done to change the course of their illness. I also see people who are happy to skate along, grab as much as they can, and kick back to watch others put in the effort that keeps things going. Oh for a happy balance! Unfortunately you cant legislate morality, and if someones parents don't teach them a good work ethic its unlikely to stick later in life.
     Healthcare is a mess. As much as I don't expect people to understand every little nuance, the amount of things people do NOT understand astounds me. Lets take a little trip and get a few things straight.
     American healthcare is messed up. California is simply a great example of what is WRONG in our move toward state sponsored healthcare. People area advised to avoid ER for nonemergencies. Okay, that makes sense. They are to try and go to their regular doctor, and most people have one assigned. Problem is wait time to see their doctor can be greater than 3 weeks! Alternative pops in at this point. Try urgent care! Urgent care is a great idea, except that their function - to off er quick care or care when your doctor isnt open is a total fail. Wait times in California urgent cares are often 3 hours. They also tend to close early in the evening. So sure open longer than your doctor, but what happens if you need care after 7 pm? Enter the ER. Currently in California state sponsored plans and "Obamacare" are not accepte at MANY ERs. Add to that an ER wait time of 6 hours or more and you have a problem.
     This is the result of a great concept planned by people who do NOT understand healthcare. People calling their insurance companies because no one will take their new healthcaer.gov insurance and they need to be seen. People stacked on top of each other because everything is overwhelmed. A board of nursing in most states is comprised of several nurses, a government official and a few normal common laypeople. This allows all viewpoints to be considered in decisions. Why in the world is this not the model for the committees handling decisions about healthcare? A board of senators who talked to a few doctors and who have thei campains paid for my companies should NOT be making these decisions. A board of doctors, nurses, patients, insurance representatives, and government officials balanced in even numbers is the best solution for real and sustainable progress in the healthcare disaster.

Hello!

     America has some of the best medical technologies and advancements in the world. We fuel ourselves on ideas and hard work and innovation. But we have real problems in society, the family, and in healthcare. We are all experts in our little corners. Our expertise comes from experiences, education, life lived and things seen. This marvelous web of ours affords everyone a chance to pull a chair up to the table of debate and brainstorm together. Bring you notebook, and I'll bring mine.

     First off, if we all have credentials, you and me included What are mine? Mother, daughter, sister, friend. Nurse, educator, dreamer, realist. Lover of beautiful things, tackle-er of tangled problems. I am middle aged, but not over the hill. I have seen my share of events and put some experience under my belt. I have been the caregiver, the patient, and the family member. I love art, and music, and literature. I believe that reading and education open doors, and that imagination is the greatest undervalued asset. I see things that aren't right, and wish for solutions and justice.

     Why am I "partlycloudy"? Well, at my age ideas remain, but youthful optimism is tarnished. I see potential, but I don't always count on people.  At the same time my glass isn't totally empty and I know that even when there are storm clouds the sun is never far away!