How often do we think about the homeless? How often do we think of those who are dying, in need of end-of-life care?
How often do we think about those who are homeless and in need of end-of-life care? Who cares for these forgotten people?
An opinion piece in The New York Times on Sunday ("Who Will Care For Society’s Forgotten?", by Theresa Brown and Leah Nash) discusses this problem, describing "how and whether we treat these patients, especially at the end of their lives, is a moral measuring stick that is all too often missing in our discussions about health care in America."
Housecall Providers, a Portland, Ore. home care organization, cares for these vulnerable patients. The Op/Ed piece describes the care, as well as a thumbnail bit on several of their patients.
To read the Op/Ed piece in its entirety, click here.
Dr. Brown, a clinical faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, is author of "The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients' Lives." Ms. Nash is a photographer.
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Response Needed for Trump's Racist Rant
President Donald Trump targeted four U.S. House members on Sunday in what can be classified as a racist tweet, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
"Why don't they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how it is done," Trump tweeted. He followed this on Monday with more attacks, tweeting about "a bunch of Communists," adding that "they are Anti-Semitic, they are Anti-America..."
The four House Democrats who were urged to "'go back' to countries they came from are U.S. citizens," the Times wrote. While Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota was born in Somalia, she came to this country with her parents when she was 8 years old, becoming a U.S. citizen at 17. (Her parents were fleeing Somalia's civil war.) The other three House members were born in this country: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-D) "born in the Bronx to parents of Puerto Rican descent. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-D), who is black, was born in Cincinnati. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-D) was born in Detroit to Palestinian immigrants," the op/ed continues.
While these four representatives have caused divides within the Democratic part, which the Times mentions necessitating a reminder that defeating Trump, as well as continuing Democratic control of the House, might call for a more centrist appeal.
"Yet none of this excuses Trump’s racist attacks or the silence from most Republicans in response," the article continues.
To read the Tampa Bay Times Op-Ed in its entirety, go to http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/trumps-racist-rant-requires-a-collective-response-editorial-20190715/.
"Why don't they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how it is done," Trump tweeted. He followed this on Monday with more attacks, tweeting about "a bunch of Communists," adding that "they are Anti-Semitic, they are Anti-America..."
The four House Democrats who were urged to "'go back' to countries they came from are U.S. citizens," the Times wrote. While Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota was born in Somalia, she came to this country with her parents when she was 8 years old, becoming a U.S. citizen at 17. (Her parents were fleeing Somalia's civil war.) The other three House members were born in this country: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-D) "born in the Bronx to parents of Puerto Rican descent. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-D), who is black, was born in Cincinnati. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-D) was born in Detroit to Palestinian immigrants," the op/ed continues.
While these four representatives have caused divides within the Democratic part, which the Times mentions necessitating a reminder that defeating Trump, as well as continuing Democratic control of the House, might call for a more centrist appeal.
"Yet none of this excuses Trump’s racist attacks or the silence from most Republicans in response," the article continues.
To read the Tampa Bay Times Op-Ed in its entirety, go to http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/trumps-racist-rant-requires-a-collective-response-editorial-20190715/.
Thursday, June 13, 2019
Insulin or Death
If one were to hear the words drugs and risky behavior, the first thought might be someone using/abusing street drugs or pain-killing opioids.
But an Op-Ed article and video in The New York Times states that many Type 1 diabetics are frequently having to resort to questionable measures in order to obtain their life-saving insulin.
Why would this be? The reason is simple, according to the article: "Patent laws and existing regulations allow the top three manufacturers to continuously increase prices without consequences."
So, while diabetes is considered "a perfectly manageable autoimmune disease" for which a nearly century-old drug is available, many diabetics are finding their insulin more and more difficult to afford.
To read the Op-Ed article and view the video in their entirety, go to https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/13/opinion/insulin-price-costs.html.
But an Op-Ed article and video in The New York Times states that many Type 1 diabetics are frequently having to resort to questionable measures in order to obtain their life-saving insulin.
Why would this be? The reason is simple, according to the article: "Patent laws and existing regulations allow the top three manufacturers to continuously increase prices without consequences."
So, while diabetes is considered "a perfectly manageable autoimmune disease" for which a nearly century-old drug is available, many diabetics are finding their insulin more and more difficult to afford.
To read the Op-Ed article and view the video in their entirety, go to https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/13/opinion/insulin-price-costs.html.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Dismantling Roe v. Wade is a Death Sentence
In the 45 years since becoming the law of the land, Roe v. Wade has saved countless lives.
While many might argue the validity of that statement, mentioning that "babies" are dying during the procedure, Roe has, in fact, saved lives, making abortions in medical facilities safe, according to Gary Woodcock in this morning's Tampa Bay Times ("Column: This is what back-alley abortions were really like")
In his years as a Baltimore police officer, Woodcock saw his share of horror bestowed on women who wanted (or, in many cases, needed) to terminate a pregnancy in the pre-Roe years. Before you rush to call Woodcock a liberal in a cop's uniform, he acknowledges that he is "a moderate conservative or, equally, a moderate liberal, depending on the issue du jour," who grew up as a staunch Catholic, then served his country as a Marine, before becoming a police officer.
He wrote that he saw what having an illegal abortion in a non-medical setting frequently does to a woman. On a good day, she may end up in the hospital for several days recovering; on bad days, if she survives, she may become unable to have future children. (And if she dies? Who then cares for any of the children she may already have, children now left motherless and without being able to look forward to future siblings yet to come?)
While there are many reasons a woman might need to terminate a pregnancy - possibly the result of a rape or incest, possibly lovingly conceived with a partner before finding out a difficult medical diagnosis that, without treatment, means certain death, but with treatment would leave the fetus with severe birth defects and/or deformities (think cancer or zika) - how can one, in good conscience, say that sentencing women to death for what should be a private decision between that woman and her health care provider is the right thing to do? For who?
There are many reasons to keep abortion legal, as well as overturning the Hyde Amendment, which makes it difficult to receive a federally funded abortion.
Start by reading Mr. Woodcock's article, then have an honest and open-minded conversation with someone who has needed an abortion. You'd be surprised how many women have needed one, and count on Roe's continued existence.
While many might argue the validity of that statement, mentioning that "babies" are dying during the procedure, Roe has, in fact, saved lives, making abortions in medical facilities safe, according to Gary Woodcock in this morning's Tampa Bay Times ("Column: This is what back-alley abortions were really like")
In his years as a Baltimore police officer, Woodcock saw his share of horror bestowed on women who wanted (or, in many cases, needed) to terminate a pregnancy in the pre-Roe years. Before you rush to call Woodcock a liberal in a cop's uniform, he acknowledges that he is "a moderate conservative or, equally, a moderate liberal, depending on the issue du jour," who grew up as a staunch Catholic, then served his country as a Marine, before becoming a police officer.
He wrote that he saw what having an illegal abortion in a non-medical setting frequently does to a woman. On a good day, she may end up in the hospital for several days recovering; on bad days, if she survives, she may become unable to have future children. (And if she dies? Who then cares for any of the children she may already have, children now left motherless and without being able to look forward to future siblings yet to come?)
While there are many reasons a woman might need to terminate a pregnancy - possibly the result of a rape or incest, possibly lovingly conceived with a partner before finding out a difficult medical diagnosis that, without treatment, means certain death, but with treatment would leave the fetus with severe birth defects and/or deformities (think cancer or zika) - how can one, in good conscience, say that sentencing women to death for what should be a private decision between that woman and her health care provider is the right thing to do? For who?
There are many reasons to keep abortion legal, as well as overturning the Hyde Amendment, which makes it difficult to receive a federally funded abortion.
Start by reading Mr. Woodcock's article, then have an honest and open-minded conversation with someone who has needed an abortion. You'd be surprised how many women have needed one, and count on Roe's continued existence.
Sunday, April 22, 2018
NRA and its "Hysterical Teen"
The students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida have presented themselves as a strong, cohesive, intelligent force in confronting the National Rifle Association and other gun rights' activists in their fight to bring about intelligent gun control measures aimed at limiting death and destruction due to gun violence.
In today's Tampa Bay Times, columnist John Romano asks the question, "Okay, Now Who Sounds like a Hysterical Teen Talking About Guns?". (Hint: it isn't the aforementioned intelligent Stoneman Douglas students, who have shown amazing grace under pressure.)
Romano points out that Former NRA President Marion Hammer, who has watched over Florida legislators for decades, is upset to find more and more Florida legislators backing away from the NRA's stance that everyone should be allowed ready access to guns, "ominously suggest(ing) some may never again get an 'A' grade from the NRA."
While many may argue that the Second Amendment allows for gun ownership, it is not a blanket "everyone deserves one right now, right here," as Romano points out.
To read John Romano's editorial in its entirety, click here.
In today's Tampa Bay Times, columnist John Romano asks the question, "Okay, Now Who Sounds like a Hysterical Teen Talking About Guns?". (Hint: it isn't the aforementioned intelligent Stoneman Douglas students, who have shown amazing grace under pressure.)
Romano points out that Former NRA President Marion Hammer, who has watched over Florida legislators for decades, is upset to find more and more Florida legislators backing away from the NRA's stance that everyone should be allowed ready access to guns, "ominously suggest(ing) some may never again get an 'A' grade from the NRA."
While many may argue that the Second Amendment allows for gun ownership, it is not a blanket "everyone deserves one right now, right here," as Romano points out.
To read John Romano's editorial in its entirety, click here.
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Health Care in a Free Market
While House Speaker Paul Ryan is a believer in free-market medicine, a New York emergency medicine physician writes that "in a totally free market health care system, you must be willing to let some patients die."
House Speaker Ryan said that with health care, "You get it if you want it. That's freedom." But according to Dr. Farzon A. Nahvi in The New York Times (“Don’t Leave Health Care to a Free Market”), being given medical services that one does not consent to and getting saddled with a bill of thousands of dollars "is nothing like freedom."
Nahvi gives examples of several patients who were found unconscious by passers-by who contacted 911. These patients were then transported to New York emergency rooms and treated, then saddled with huge medical bills. He likens this to having Verizon adding extra services to your bill and charging you thousands of dollars for the bill.
In the end, Dr. Nahvi writes, "Deep down inside, we all intuitively know that health care is not a free market, or else society would not allow me to routinely care for people when they are in no position to make decisions for themselves," concluding that if we believe in truly free-market health care, we would acknowledge that we might have to let the next unconscious person we find in the street remain there, rather than getting that person medical help.
Click here to read the op-ed piece in its entirety.
House Speaker Ryan said that with health care, "You get it if you want it. That's freedom." But according to Dr. Farzon A. Nahvi in The New York Times (“Don’t Leave Health Care to a Free Market”), being given medical services that one does not consent to and getting saddled with a bill of thousands of dollars "is nothing like freedom."
Nahvi gives examples of several patients who were found unconscious by passers-by who contacted 911. These patients were then transported to New York emergency rooms and treated, then saddled with huge medical bills. He likens this to having Verizon adding extra services to your bill and charging you thousands of dollars for the bill.
In the end, Dr. Nahvi writes, "Deep down inside, we all intuitively know that health care is not a free market, or else society would not allow me to routinely care for people when they are in no position to make decisions for themselves," concluding that if we believe in truly free-market health care, we would acknowledge that we might have to let the next unconscious person we find in the street remain there, rather than getting that person medical help.
Click here to read the op-ed piece in its entirety.
Monday, May 8, 2017
Medicaid Cuts Will Adversely Affect Fla. Hospitals - and Citizens
In a decision that will adversely affect many of Florida's hospitals, state lawmakers decided Thursday "to cut $521 million from hospitals." Nearly one-fifth of those hospitals affected are in the Tampa Bay area.
According to Tampa Bay Times ("Lawmakers are cutting $92 million from Medicaid in Tampa Bay. Which hospitals are hardest hit?"), the cuts will "mostly impact the facilities that take on the largest number of Medicaid patients, including the state’s safety net hospitals." Under this plan, hospitals in the Tampa Bay area will lose $91.7 million.
This plan is expected to pass the state House and Senate today.
While state legislators are trying to balance the budget, this short-sighted plan to cut Medicaid payments will not only hurt hospitals, but those people that these hospitals serve. And it won't hurt only those people on Medicaid - it will adversely hurt all Floridians.
How? Simple. When hospitals - say, St. Petersburg's All Children's Hospital, which serves children from all over the state, including critically ill children - receive less Medicaid money to treat those receiving treatment, the hospitals then have less money to distribute in its system for treating others with more conventional insurance (or those without any insurance at all).
Less money equals less time in the hospital for those who may need longer recovery times from surgery, critical illness, and other long-term recovery in the hospital setting. It also means cut-backs in personnel, including in emergency rooms, which, again, will adversely affect patient care.
What will it take to wake the legislators up to their short-sightedness? Maybe nothing. Maybe a call to your state senators and house representatives.
To read the article in its entirety, including the list of hospitals (which includes Tampa General, All Children's, Bayfront Health-St. Petersburg, and Moffitt Cancer Center), click here.
Click here to call or email your Florida state legislators.
According to Tampa Bay Times ("Lawmakers are cutting $92 million from Medicaid in Tampa Bay. Which hospitals are hardest hit?"), the cuts will "mostly impact the facilities that take on the largest number of Medicaid patients, including the state’s safety net hospitals." Under this plan, hospitals in the Tampa Bay area will lose $91.7 million.
This plan is expected to pass the state House and Senate today.
While state legislators are trying to balance the budget, this short-sighted plan to cut Medicaid payments will not only hurt hospitals, but those people that these hospitals serve. And it won't hurt only those people on Medicaid - it will adversely hurt all Floridians.
How? Simple. When hospitals - say, St. Petersburg's All Children's Hospital, which serves children from all over the state, including critically ill children - receive less Medicaid money to treat those receiving treatment, the hospitals then have less money to distribute in its system for treating others with more conventional insurance (or those without any insurance at all).
Less money equals less time in the hospital for those who may need longer recovery times from surgery, critical illness, and other long-term recovery in the hospital setting. It also means cut-backs in personnel, including in emergency rooms, which, again, will adversely affect patient care.
What will it take to wake the legislators up to their short-sightedness? Maybe nothing. Maybe a call to your state senators and house representatives.
To read the article in its entirety, including the list of hospitals (which includes Tampa General, All Children's, Bayfront Health-St. Petersburg, and Moffitt Cancer Center), click here.
Click here to call or email your Florida state legislators.
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