Emergency Room is the only option for many
This report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation documents, state-by-state, the rates of people without insurance, the percentage of people who could get care if they needed it. In several states, that number barely tops 80 percent. That means one-fifth of the population has no access whatsoever to health care except for the emergency room, where you have to live — or die — with whatever the doctors tell you.
In March, a homeless man in Asheville went to the emergency room here. He was having respiratory problems, so the staff gave him some medication and released him. The man protested, saying he was really sick, and refused to leave.
The hospital called the police because the man became unruly, and he was carted off to jail, where he died later that night.
I don’t blame the hospital nearly as much as I blame the system. If the man had access to medical care, he could have been treated before his cold developed into pneumonia. Maybe in a humane society he would have been cared for.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has just announced a $300 million commitment to improve the healthcare of Americans. Read about the effort.
“Across America, there are serious gaps between the health care that people should receive and the care they actually receive,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Despite having the most expensive health care system in the world, patients are subject to too many mistakes, too much miscommunication and too much inequity. As a result, too many Americans aren’t receiving the care they need and deserve.”
Tags: Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a peer support program for people with one or more serious or chronic medical issues or disabilities.
We aim to reduce isolation and fear among people who have conditions, including psychiatric illness, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, mild dementia or other cognitive disorder or disability, thereby reducing depression and complications as people learn to improve self-management of their medical conditions.
Patient Pals help alleviate feelings of isolation and frustration. They can help people develop a list of questions to ask the doctor and then accompany the person to the doctor to make sure all the questions are answered, taking notes to be sure the person understands the doctor’s answers.
Our trained volunteers also accompany their “Pals” to art exhibits, movies and walks outdoors, meet for coffee, call to check in and more.
Our Pals have experienced weight loss, improvement in diabetes, HIV, psoriasis, depression and more, just because they have someone who cares about them. Some relationships develop into longer-term friendships; other Pals move on to more independent lives.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
We need volunteers, who are asked to donate a minimum of one hour a week. Training is free and includes information on active listening, ways to help and when to know more help is needed.
And of course, we need funding.
To learn more, call Leslie Boyd at 828-243-6712 or e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com.
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