Bobby Butterworth
My Friend, Bobby Butterworth had some chest pains a month ago, on a Thursday. We told him to go to the ER. He decided to wait the evening, because he had no insurance – He felt a hospital bill would bankrupt him and leave him on the street (the ER asks for money up front now, humiliating you if you can\’t pay.) By Friday, he was dead. We buried him on a Wednesday. It is just NOT FAIR that a hardworking american has to make a decision to seek healtcare or keep a roof over his head.
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.
Could you imagine if your house was on fire and you had to give the fire department cash, check or a credit card before they would put the fire out? How about the police department? Somethings should be part of our society. Health care is one of them. People shouldn’t have to choose between their health or a home.
I work at the ER and yes we do ask for a payment, but treatment is never refused if that payment cannot be met, and never have I seen anyone humiliting someone because they cannot pay. The hospital also offers financial assistants to many patients that qualify. Also ABCCM and the health department provide care for patients for free ( as far as I know)
The ER is a great place for emergencies, but not for regular health care — it just isn’t equipped to do that. We need a better solution. ABCCM will offer care, but it can’t see everyone. The wait to see a physician can be weeks because of the need. The health department isn’t taking any new patients. Many of the people who work in the system are good people, but the system is broken.