Guaranteed Healthcare

By Donna Smith

ELY, Nev – While some of the stops on our RNs’ healthcare road show in Nevada have provided challenges in politically conservative areas from nervous or misinformed people and even local journalists, other stops have brought us in touch with those fellow care providers seeing the toughest of conditions and still trying to deliver quality care.  For the people of the Newe Medical Clinic and Ely Shoshone Health Department, a visit from the nurses’ educational tour bus was a gift of affirmation – a show of support and respect for shared mission.

The bus pulled up in front of the clinic shortly after noon when the warm fall sun made the rural and arid landscape seem even more stark and quiet.  The Nevada Nurses stepped off the bus and into the clinic set up in mobile trailers in a modest neighborhood of Ely, Nevada.  Inside the desks were full of literature and paperwork, while large rooms housed both conference tables for meetings and individual work areas.

The administrator welcomed the RNs and shared with them a bit about her difficulties and frustrations in working to provide services within an Indian Health Service budget that is underfunded.  She acknowledged that true healthcare reformed would relieve many of the pressures on not only the Native patient population but also the local employers who often cannot afford to provide healthcare benefits for employees or who pass along high premium costs to folks making modest wages that must stretch to cover family costs.

Nevada’s nurses shared with clinic staff that while their primary issue surrounding this tour was to educate people about the candidates’ plans for health reform, that they would always keep in mind the pressures faced in rural health services – both within IHS and otherwise. 

Outside in front of the bus, the clinic administrator said she knew that the proposal offered by John McCain and the proposed $5,000 tax credit wouldn’t even touch the annual costs of family or even individual insurance is much, much more than any such credit would allow.  She prefers the Obama plans for many national issues, including healthcare.  So she was pleased to see the RNs bringing their healthcare report cards to Nevadans from Reno and Elko and now into Ely.

It was a pretty safe bet that the McCain-Palin “Stop Obama” effort that had been on the ground in the Elko park early this morning would not be stopping by this clinic or reaching out to those hurting for healthcare, so the nurses’ visit was especially appreciated and embraced by these gentle care providers.

Soon it was time to part as the RNs faced a five hour bus ride to Las Vegas and ever more sharing of the clear message that all of us have a basic human right to healthcare.  All of us…