In the richest country in the world, people are camping out in SoCal to see a doctor for free

[marmar]

from the Los Angeles Times:



The sick status quo
Images of ill Americans relying on the kindness of medical professionals says more about the need for reform than all that shouting.

August 13, 2009


Cable news channels have devoted hours of airtime this week to the rancorous debates about healthcare reform at town halls across the country, supplementing the coverage with alarmist commercials about rationing and government-run care. Notably, opponents of the reform effort haven't tried to defend the status quo. Instead, they've spent their time painting exaggerated pictures of what the system might look like in the future -- a world of "death panels,” delayed treatments and lethal cost-cutting. In short, their nightmarish depiction of "Obama-care" looks a lot like a Hollywood version of an HMO, but with seniors instead of starlets.

It's too bad the television cameras haven't been trained instead on the Forum in Inglewood, where the Remote Area Medical Foundation opened a temporary clinic this week. The scene makes a compelling case for a healthcare overhaul, putting a human face on the dry statistics about uninsured and underinsured Americans. People started lining up Monday for a chance to be treated Tuesday by volunteer doctors, dentists, nurses and other healthcare providers. About 1,500 people were seen that first day; after hundreds more camped out overnight, the clinic ran at full capacity again on Wednesday. It's scheduled to stay eight days before heading to its next stop, a reservation in Utah.

The turnout in Inglewood was huge despite the lack of publicity about the clinic, indicating how great the need is for more primary care. These are the people whose first stop for treatment tends to be the emergency room, often after a routine problem has festered long enough to become a complex (and expensive) one. Expanding health insurance to cover this group wouldn't be cheap, but it's a prerequisite to the changes in delivery and payment that will help improve care and control costs.

Remote Area Medical's experience here also illustrates one of the best features of our healthcare system: the humanitarianism of its professionals. But unless the system is reformed to bring basic healthcare services to all Americans, far too many will continue to depend on the kindness of strangers.


http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-health13-2009aug13,0,6674310.story

[AuntPatsy]

1. Where are the christians in CA, the ones who spent days and long hours

canvasing to ensure gay marriage did not make it through the vote....I guess people in need are not to their liking...thank you to those Dr's and nurses who contribute their time in order to give aid to those who cannot afford it...thankfully we still have some that care...just not enough, not nearly enough and without the funds needed..most will not receive the treatment and care they need so desperately other than in small doses.......

[valerief]

7. They're wagging their fingers and saying the word, "Bootstraps," a lot. nt

[Historic NY]

2. America has become a 3rd world country thanks to the GOP.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. i saw the leading edge of this 20 years ago

so I am not shocked or surprised. It will take more than these stories in PRINT papers to force the obvious to the front lines though.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. richest country in the world? Compared to someplace like Switzerland

the USA is more like Mexico.

[marmar]

5. I know.....but that's the oft-repeated meme, right?

[valerief]

6. The rich people have all the money. nt

[onestepforward]

8. A photo of people waiting for it to open.

From The Guardian:

[applegrove]

9. Picture is a thousand yells.