Something great about our healthcare system and about our country…Back to the Blog »
August 1st, 2009
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With all of the talk about everything that’s wrong about our healthcare system, lets talk about something that is great.
And make no mistake: this is about our PRIVATE healthcare system, and how private citizens are helping to make it work better.
Today I’ll be riding in the 30th Pan Mass Challenge, a 2 day bike ride across Massachusetts that will raise more than $30 million this weekend for the Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Read more about the PMC here.
In New England, if you think about the best cancer care you generally think Dana Farber. Maybe it’s because those of us who are Red Sox fans hear about it through the Jimmy Fund, the Red Sox charity that supports Dana Farber. Or maybe it’s because they do some of the best research on cancer in the world. But for whatever reason, Dana Farber is at the top of the list.
It’s great to have the choice to go there if I or someone in my family needs to. Maintaining that choice, and not having to wait long periods of time to see the specialists we need to, has to be part of whetever health reform that emerges. Build around what is working, fix what is not. Freedom of choice and access to the best in the world, like Dana Farber, for those of us with private insurance living in New England, is part of what is working.
For those without private insurance, this is what you are missing and what needs to be fixed. But very carefully. For those of you not living in New England, well, I don’t know what to tell you…
Cancer research, of course, and Dana Farber for sure, are huge beneficiaries of PUBLIC tax dollars in the fight to cure cancer. And we need to continually invest tax dollars in medical research for the greater good. But this event is about how private citizens are enjoined in the fight by riding, volunteering, cheering and contributing to help fight this terrible disease.
I have a 46 year old co-worker who is in late stage breast cancer and nearing the end. I am riding fior her this year, and I am sure I will bawl like a baby 10 times these next 2 days when I think of her and when I see the hundreds of other survivors out there riding and volunteering and cheering everyone on. It is incredibly moving, and incredibly inspirational. It’s about people who care getting off the couch to help others and to support the tremendously talented physicians, nurses and researchers who are trying every day to help find a cure. I am proud to be part of it, and proud be doing a little something to help out.
You can follow me today on twitter here: http://twitter.com/billcarew or donate to my effort here, if you are so inclined.
It’s part of what is working…
Posted by Bill in Health & Wellness, Healthcare Reform, Miscellaneous
God Bless You!!!
Yesterday on the Today show there was a segment about how universal healthcare will have an effect on the people who need help with problems surrounding depression. The doctors are going to be so tight on time that the 45 minute visits to talk about problems and ways to help will be replaced by a 10 minute visit and a quick RX for an antidepressant.
Here is the link: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/32274077/ns/health-mental_health/