I am waiting for the Presidential candidates to start their third debate, and I wonder if they will discuss their concrete plans regarding how to provide health care for the uninsured in the United States. How can you charge a family with an income $5000.00 for a health care package. On the other hand do we really want socialized medicine in our country. Canadians and people from other nations with socialized medicine frequently come to the US for the best medical care in the world, without waits. Do we want that? Do we want our choices taken away? What to do? More importantly we have a nation of uninsured citizens. Texas as a state being the almost the worst, being ranked 49th nationally in providing health care to her citizens.
We as citizens can work together to help solve this problem, that is the beauty of faith-based clinics. People helping people to solve a huge problem. The next governmental bail-out according to many who speculate on these fiscal matters will be Medicare. Some say it will be bankrupt in the next ten years. We need cost effective solutions! Wouldn't it be great if people at the community level were already working together to provide health care at a very low-cost price, getting the ball rolling, with-out federal or state intervention, unless we asked for the grant.....
I ran across an article in the Dallas Morning New 10/07/08 dallasnews.com that discusses a partnership between faith based clinics that receive federal aid. One such clinic, Central Dallas Ministries provides services to chronically homeless people such as rehab from substance abuse, financial guidance, and life skills training to help get them back on their feet. Their success is so significant they have helped reduce Dallas' chronic homeless rate by 43% in two years time.
The responses I have received from my survey so far have indicated that many of you would volunteer to work at a free or faith-based clinic not for tax benefits, but to simply help your community. That is so awesome! I believe in the goodness of humanity, I don't think we need an overall government bail-out in health care, but creative interventions, such as volunteer driven clinics; perhaps ones like Central Dallas Ministries, that does so much with so little. Together we can make a difference. Wouldn't it be cool if the candidates a plan that involved citizens working together to make America better. That candidate would get my vote! A million points of light wouldn't be political rhetoric, but realty.
About Me
- Kathi
- Kathryn L. Branch, RN, BSN, CEN is a 17 year Certified Emergency Room Nurse and Educator. She is currently completing her MSN to become an Emergency Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator. She will graduate Spring 2009 from the University of Texas at Arlington School of Nursing. She is a USAF Veteran, and her interests include volunteering for the CCAC, and Texas Republican Party.
3 comments:
Love the update. Huge topic. What to do about healthcare. I am not sure what the answer is. I think access to healthcare needs to be more affordable to all. For example, I went to the doctor today. Spent 5 mins (yes really 5 minutes) actually speaking with the doctor. It cost me $50.00 after my insurance paid for the visit. What if I didn't have insurance or $50? That is truly where I believe the issue lies. I think a sliding scale type clinic would also be a great idea. Those who could pay $5 or so would and if they can't, well then they still get the same care. Maybe the state could consider allowing "forgiveness" of part of the CE requirements for RNs if they volunteered. What do you think?
I am thrilled by your feedback! Sliding scales are certainly an option, one reason why the minute clinic concept works so well. I also believe that if a professional volunteers if they refuse tax credits perhaps they can bank their hours, let's say for now in a Medicare type fund/ PPO/HMO whatever. If the volunteer then needs to access the additional funds, for example a &30.00 co-pay for Levaquin. Help with contact lenses whatever, it could be like a flexible spending account; but more like banked funds based on hours served. Regardless, I think with creative thought we can solve this problem with out people suffering or bail outs! I look forward to a interesting dialogue. I hope to have lots of data to foward to my congressmen and senators. K
Well, the debate was last night and I don't know about you but I don't think either one really layed out their plan. Personally, I don't think either plan is great. The $5,000 tax credit does not seem like enough money and socialized medicine doesn't seem like the answer. Reading articles from Britain and Canada discourages me from this because of patients complaining of long wait times for surgeries, to see the MD, and a lack of competition to inspire better medicine. I love your idea of the faith based clinics and wish the idea was spread around more.
Post a Comment