Guaranteed Healthcare

Well, it's Sunday afternoon, and after working four consecutive 12+ hour day shifts in the ICU last week, taking care of the sickest, most vulnerable patients imaginable, I'll confess to being a bit tired and weary.  At home, I've begun sorting piles of laundry, and collecting the coffee cups that never seem to find their own way into the dishwasher.  MSNBC's Meet the Press is broadcasting in the background, and my boxer, Ginger, is dogging my heels and hinting that she'd really like to go for a walk to the park sometime today.   

My mind begins to wander back to some of the more poignant and intriguing memories of the past week. Yesterday afternoon three of my colleagues and I stood by with a 93 year old patient who was taking her last peaceful breaths less than 12 hours after her friends and family had prayed for her and said their last good-byes.  We watched her heart beat slow and then stop as her spirit left her body. We silenced and finally disconnected the monitor alarms that confirmed what we already knew.  She'd suffered a massive stroke just a few days after Christmas, and her family agreed that her wishes did not include aggressive and futile life support.  (Although a transfer to a medical bed or hospice care was ordered, none were available for her placement prior to her death.)

One of my colleagues who was serving as the designated Trauma response nurse was suddenly paged to the Emergency room.  A young man had been stabbed in the neck and was bleeding profusely. Major blood vessels were severed and the vascular team began preparing for immediate transport to the OR. The trauma room doc tried to control the bleeding by placing some temporary sutures and packing in the wound, when the young man began shouting that he didn't have insurance and that he couldn't afford to pay for any surgery. He said, "I don't want an operation, just let me go home."

Yes, he'd had a bit too much to drink, and was a danger to himself and not competent to make the decision to refuse.  The ER doc calmly explained to his young patient that he would die without the surgery.  Phone consent for treatment was obtained from his family. Two large IV's were started, and a bit of sedation was administered and emergency blood transfusions were initiated before the mad dash to the operating room got underway.  He would soon need that bed in the ICU.

And, on Meet the Press, David Gregory continued his interview of Senate Majority leader Harry Reid. Blah, blah, blah, Blagojevich, (the dish water is running), the war in Iraq...General Petraeus...the surge...and then, I heard Senator Reid express his opinion that George Bush is 'our worst president, ever.'

O.K. I thought, we all know how awful it's been. So, what then must we do?  I turned off the faucet; I was curious and began wondering, how's he going to justify his assertion?  What criteria, what example would have led him to that conclusion?  As the show was wrapping up, David Gregory fed Senator Reid a lead-in line, and it gave Reid an opportunity to mention his recent book, The Good Fight.

By Donna Smith

CHICAGO -- Who says working for healthcare reform isn't fun?  Certainly not those of us in Chicago who met before Christmas to laugh and share some holiday cheer -- and to bowl for single payer.  In one of my favorite photos from this entire year (above) are tireless single payer advocates Vanessa Beck, patient and member of Chi-SPAN (Chicago Single Payer Action Network), and Dr. Anne Sheetz of PNHP (Physicians for a National Health Program).  Both women are strong and loving -- maybe not great bowlers -- but great people working to make this world a whole lot more just.

The bowling party had been in the works since before the November general election.  All year long, the folks working on single payer -- publicly funded, privately delivered healthcare -- worked on various campaigns and in various ways to move the agenda of single payer forward.  While every individual had his or her reason for being so involved, the collective spirit of the group was clearly one of shared mission and commitment to seeing single payer legislation become the law -- not just in the Land of Lincoln (and now of Barack Obama) but also in the nation.

So we grew fond of one another in the struggle -- you do meet the most wonderful people in the single payer movement.  And we bowled.  Some of us bowled poorly while some bowled a bit better.  We laughed and clapped and just enjoyed one another's company as we each knew that all too soon we'd be back to the task and back at work. 

See another photo or two by clicking on the read more function.

President-elect Obama's transition team says they want to hear from us on healthcare.  So, the time has come to rise up and speak up as never before.  Let's contribute the single payer -- publicly funded, privately delivered -- healthcare message loud and clear. 

Go to the change.gov site to sign up and host a health care community discussion.

http://change.gov/page/s/hcdiscussion

If we're going to have a seat at the discussion table, we're going to have to invite our friends, neighbors and family, set the table and serve up the best option for this nation's healthcare mess --

By Donna Smith

CHICAGO -- While other devoted election workers and issue activists were taking a much deserved breather following the November 4th general election and planning their trips to celebrate their success in Washington in January, single payer healthcare reform activists stepped up their energy levels and gathered twice in national formations within just 10 days after the historic election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. 

The Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Healthcare met in Washington, DC, on November 10th and 11th, with leaders from the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee along with other labor organizations, faith-based groups, Healthcare-Now, Progressive Democrats of America, medical students, Physicians for a National Health Program and representatives from more than 20 diverse organizations.

Just three days later, in Chicago (see above), the committed activists from Healthcare-Now convened their 2008 National Strategy Conference with representatives from 23 states and the District of Columbia to pull together the various states organizations and member coalitions of Healthcare-Now and map out the immediate efforts to support HR676, Rep. John Conyers' national single payer bill.  Single payer is the publicly funded, privately delivered healthcare reform plan that addresses and repairs the lack of access and affordability issues facing millions of Americans.

Rep. Conyers attended both national meetings.  He assured both the group assembled in Washington and the folks gathered in Chicago that he will reintroduce HR676 in the 111th Congress and that his support is stronger than ever for the bill. 

I have some comments on my story on the NRP radio program, the Story with Dick Gordon, that aired Tuesday (Nov. 18)...

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON, DC –  Just yesterday, the new First Family measured the drapes in the White House just blocks from where I write this piece.  It has been but a week since we saw history as my U.S. Senator Barack Obama was elected to be our next President.  But for some of us, the joy is tempered by a reality that just won’t abate.

If I heard the candidates refer to the pain on “Main Street” one more time, I thought I might explode.  While I think most Democrats come closer to “getting it” on issues of economic disparity than most right-wing Republicans, I don’t really believe anyone yet is capable of embracing people who have been damaged and bruised as a part of the “change” we need in Washington. It may come, but we’re not there yet or they’d be acting with appropriate haste.

Before I go through my own personal list, we should all kneel in front of Senator Kennedy. 

Though the healthcare reform plan he is working on, is far from the ideal single payer plan many of us believe is the only solution to our national catastrophe, Senator Kennedy will force healthcare reform to the top of the legislative agenda, and God bless him for that.

But, now is the time to get it right, even if we need to take a bit more time.

To Senator Kennedy or anyone working with him, I'll echo the words of John McCain's failed VP candidate.  Thanks but no thanks on any version of Romneycare.  It's a failure in Massachusetts and it's a non-starter for the American people.

This is a good day for single payer.

Two champions, Kathy Dahlkemper from the 3rd CD in Pennsylvania and Eric Massa from the 29th CD in New York, won seats in the 111th Congress.

I think it's fair to say that we hope and expect Kathy and Eric will become co-sponsors of HR 676 as soon as they are sworn into office.

During the pre-election bus tour of Northeast swing states in which I was privileged to participate, we swung through the Massa and Dahlkemper districts.

Ms. Dahlkemper scored a huge upset  against the incumbent Representative Phil English in the socially conservative and traditionally Repuglican northwestern corner of Pennsylvania.

Mr. English, a lifelong resident of Erie, has held the Third District seat since 1995 and is a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Good bye  Good riddance Phil English. Go find yourself a job on K Street.

Ms. Dahlkemper, a co-owner of a family landscaping business, boasted that she was “not a career politician,” and she tied Mr. English to President Bush’s economic policies. Welcome to the movement for guaranteed and affordable healthcare.  We hope you will stand shoulder to shoulder with John Conyers on HR 676.

The bus tour also took us the the 29th Congressional district in New York. It was a good night for Eric Massa, another single payer supporter,  another co-sponsor of HR 676, a veteran and war hero, who took down Randy Kuhl. 

For the last several days, the blogosphere has been awash with a single admonition. A single plea.

Stay in Line.

"Don't think for a moment that power concedes."

Stay in line.

In many states the wait to vote could extend through the day. Stay on line.

In many states minorities, first time voters, and even the elderly will encounter all manner of obstructions. Stay on line.

If an elderly person needs assistance, work together with the people around you to provide whatever help you can. But please, stay on line.

Please, no matter the hours, the weather, the heat, the need for a toilet, or a sip of water, please, stay in line.

I just voted. I waited. I stayed in line. I'm one of the lucy ones, my line was only about an hour and a half.  My friend, who votes in a different election district, got up at 4AM and was on his line at 5, the polls open in New York at 6AM, he voted right before 8AM.

We stayed on line and so must you. No matter what.

Vote like you life depends on it, because it does.

STAY ON LINE. STAY IN LINE. NO MATTER WHAT.

If you don't know where to vote, click this link, it will direct you to your polling station.

By Donna Smith

CHESAPEAKE, Virginia --  Perhaps it would have been more logical to wrap up this road show in the nation's capital, grab the "money" shots and head for home.  But that wouldn't be quite the usual style of the brave and hard-working nurses of the National Nurses Organizing Committee or the California Nurses Association.  So long as there were voters to educate and healthcare "hero" candidates who needed support, the nurses worked on.

In Chesapeake, Virginia, Congressional candidate Andrea Miller of Congressional District 4 has been working hard and talking to her future constituents for several months, and she sure was thrilled to see the healthcare road show bus, complete with the RNs' candidate report card, in her district.  CNA/NNOC president Geri Jenkins shared some rally time with Andrea and wished her well in tomorrow's election.

While the presidential race is often the sexiest from a media perspective, nurses know that when they look for legislative support for making their profession stronger, it is often the people who hold Congressional office that are the most critical.  So on this long road show, the bus made its way to five of the Congressional districts where RNs identified healthcare heroes -- candidates who support single payer, publicly funded and privately delivered healthcare.

So, the road show wrapped up its 10-state run in Virginia.  It seemed like everywhere we went there were volunteers working on Get-Out-the-Vote efforts and infusing energy into the election process.  As we bid farewell to the road, the nurses were set to head home to their home states -- but not to put their feet up and rest.  The nurses were heading home to knock on doors, serve as poll watchers, give rides to polling places, make phone calls and continue the work so vital to this democracy.

Tomorrow, the work begins anew.  There is no rest so long as Americans are dying due to the lack of accessible healthcare.  Those deaths do not stop on election day or simply because one party or the other scores a win.  Yesterday, today and tomorrow, more than 60 American families will bury a loved one because our healthcare system is so very broken.  And unless our new leaders -- both our President and our new Congress -- launch into real healthcare reform efforts with all appropriate haste, the death toll will keep mounting.  Changing that reality would be the nurses' true victory.

Family Faces Foreclosure as Health Costs Crush Them

"We must now choose between buying groceries or paying our mortgage"

"We have refinanced our home six times in order to pay our medical costs amounting to more than $80,000 over the last few years," explained Deborah Krinsky of Magalia, Calif. "We have had seven different paltry health plans in eight years through my husband's job.  Between my husband, my daughter, and myself, we must buy 15 different medications. 

"Since 2000, we have been spending up to $12,000 per year in medical expenses. I am unable to work due to my ankles collapsing in 2000 after the birth of my second child. I have had six surgeries on my feet in the last eight years.  I filed for Social Security and got turned away three times because I wasn't disabled enough, and my husband Keith makes too much money. Each surgery required complete bed rest and non-weight bearing for at least three to six months. I am still under doctor's care.

Read more casualties

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON, DC -- Some scenes defy verbal description.  Above see our RNs at the Vietnam War Memorial sculpture depicting nurses on the battlefield.  Those of you lucky enough to know our president, Geri Jenkins, trauma RN, know she was teaching all the while... as her fellow members looked on and even a tour group became better informed about a nurse's role and duty, no matter what the emotion of the moment or the setting. 

Below we see a third grade student from Orange County, Calif., after her mom and grandmom had shared with her why all these names are etched in stone.  The family paid tribute to a fallen friend, but the girl's mother also took a moment to acknowledge the nurses of CNA who also rank among the family's heroes.  "Thank you for how hard you fight," she said as our nurses walked past.

By Donna Smith

SECAUCUS, New Jersey -- As you may see above, traveling on our bus can mean a bit of relaxing for some while others work on computers to plan the next stops and the next events.  Our work on the ground can be intense, and many days we held four or five separate stops, so any chance to settle in for a bit was welcome to us.

Today was a travel day.  We needed to make our way from Bangor, Maine, to Washington, DC, before Sunday afternoon, so there was no time to waste.  Up early and on our way, we were glad to have our necessary provisions on our bus and be making good time as we prepare for more reaching out to citizens who may need more information on healthcare reform before they head to the polls on Tuesday.

This bus has now carried us through Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine and New Jersey.  In every state we've met nurses and lots of our fellow citizens who are in great anticipation of this election.  Some are very hopeful, and some are fearful.  But from our observations, most citizens are certainly engaged in this election cycle.  They have been very appreciative of our nurses' information on healthcare reform.

From one end of these great New England states to the rolling hills of Ohio, families are struggling to meet their healthcare needs.  Health insurance costs too much and delivers too little to too many American families.  And still millions of other Americans have no health insurance coverage at all.  RNs know those without insurance are often working and often young, so we paid special care to reach out to those citizens so they would know that single payer healthcare in the way to go.

By Donna Smith

PORTLAND, Maine -- She's a nurse's daughter and mother of a state legislator.  Chellie Pingree is running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's 1st Congressional District.  Today the nurses of the Maine State Nurses Association, the National Nurses Organizing Committee and the California Nurses Association brought their healthcare report card bus to the town square for a rally with Chellie.

Chellie talked about HR676 and single payer healthcare with those assembled and expressed her desire to get going on her work to help fix this broken system.  The bus, the nurses and Chellie attracted print, radio and television press from the area just as Chellie prepares for her last weekend of campaigning before the Nov 4 election.

Tomorrow, I'll feature a wrap up of some of the less serious moments this week as we prepare for our final four days on the road.  We'll leave Maine for New Jersey and then arrive in Washington, DC, on Sunday.  Energy out in the communities we have visited is high surrounding this election, and we are thrilled to be visiting the communities where our endorsed candidates -- our 2008 healthcare heroes -- are running fantastic campaigns and standing firm on single payer.

Even Insured Get Stuck With the Tab

"I thought I had good coverage through the health insurance provided by my employer, Great-West," recalls Loveta Baker of Weaverville, N.C. "Due to our family history of colon cancer, I had a colonoscopy that led to the discovery of a mass. It was followed by a quick surgery that went well, without complications at all."

"In a few weeks the bills started rolling in. I knew I'd take a larger than normal hit because I've never had any luck finding an in-network provider in my area. The closest in-network gastrointestinal specialist provided by Great-West was over an hour away, and when I called the office, it was in fact a psychiatrist's practice and not a gastrointestinal doctor at all."

Read more casualties