How will it look?
Christian and I talked for a long time last night, and Janet and I the night before. We each have a different vision of how health care reform might look. Janet and Christian both want as little government intervention as possible; I think the government has to be very involved.
I try to blog about what different systems might look like and I guess it’s obvious what I think it needs to look like.
But if we can have a health care system that works for all of us and it has little government involvement, I’m happy with that. I just want it to work.
I told a group at a dinner last year that the least government can do is help them pay their bills. The group runs an amazing free clinic — Mountaintop Healthcare Services in Waynesville, NC — a great example of charity doing the job.
But as hard as these people work, more people need care and the people who operate the clinic just don’t have the money to care for everyone.
This clinic is efficient and effective. But it still can’t fill the need, even though people in the area give generously.
Christian loves the idea of charity filling the gap, and it does a lot. So, how about more funding for clinics like this one? That’s something local governments can do now, even before reform is considered by Congress.
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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