What he said …
Adam Searing, project director of the NC Justice Center’s Health Care Coalition, has made even more noise than I have about health care in America. But then, it’s his job, and he does it well.
He was part of a conference call the other day when I tried to pin down a member of Congress about his specific plans for dealing with the health care mess. But the congressman made a rambling 10-minute statement on a new study, then left without taking questions.
I was pissed. The man said nothing of consequence. He repeated the points in the study, said things are bad and then left.
I had mentioned to Adam in an earlier e-mail that we’re asking people to pin down politicians, and then this guy gets away with saying nothing and leaving.
I won’t name the congressman here because he had to go into session for a vote, but he could have used his time on the conference call to say something more creative and meaningful.
Adam must have been at least a little amused at my reaction. I was totally professional during the conference call, but I e-mailed him afterward and said I wouldn’t be quoting the congressman in the story I was writing because he’d said nothing of concequence.
Don’t make a stump speech and expect me to be happy. I already know things aren’t working. I know better than most people that the system is broken — my child was a casualty of that broken system.
Tell me more. I want to know what you plan to do, not patronizing platitudes.
So, today, Adam e-mailed me the link to his blog (http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=1516), and I had to laugh at the part where he said he wouldn’t want to be a politician trying to explain to me why he doesn’t think health care is a top priority.
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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