Arkansas Blog

Volunteerism is disgusting? I'd respectfully ask the doctor how many free clinics he or she has participated in prior to today's commendable event.

There is nothing preventing our community's medical professionals from volunteering their services on a regular basis, if the doctors are willing to do it.

Doctors and nurses donating their time is one aspect of a "free clinic"...but equipment, supplies, medicine do actually cost money...a free clinic isn't free to operate, it's just free for the patient.

So yeah, there is something quite substantial preventing community medical professionals from doing this more often...money...and lots of it. This free clinic was only made possible through donations to pay for the things necessary to operate the free clinic.

And AB, what was your task down there today? You serem to be willing to donate other people's time. People put their volunteer time into a variety of activities and you seem to be thinking that docs and other meduical personnel don't have personal or family committments, just stand around waiting for someone to come in from out of state to organize an event.

What kept you from spearheading this two months ago? This isn't a new issue. We see our food bank emptied week after week and we aren't the only ones. There is a lot to do if we really want to be able to say we are a "Christian" nation.

Right now, I would say that the people in Congress have a long way to go to be able to say they responded to "the least of these". They have the greatest opportunity and will, maybe if we are lucky, the harshest punishment for their over all lacking of caring!

End of rant!!

Since I know the doctor, I can say that there's been misinterpretation of what he wrote. He's not disgusted by volunteering. He does it often. He works in public health. He doesn't drive a Lexus or knock down $1 million a year. He's disgusted, as I am, that the need is so great in this country and the political will to meet it is so lacking. He's disgusted as a human being that even outpourings of support such as this clinic and others in New Orleans, Houston, Los Angeles, Kansas City, etc., don't begin to meet the need, much less do anything for people who will continue to be sick after today, however helpful and welcome was the patients' rare visit with medical professionals.

"Volunteerism is disgusting?"
AB that is not what he said.
Read it again....

"Every doc I talked with expressed disgust that this type of event is needed in the USA. "

It IS disgusting that in America events like this and free clinics are needed.
People in other western countries do not have to do this, they just go to the Doctor when they are sick.

Yes, I'm double-posting on two threads and couldn't BE more excited about it! Here's why.
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There aren't that many public occasions that evoke my reaction at seeing this: pride, hope, sadness.

State funerals. Some Inaugurations. Some protests.

It's sad that lobbyist-bought government has so miserably failed our citizens by extorting Americans for so long -- over something as fundamental and essential as health care.

To see fellow citizens and families, hard-working, honest, lined up at free clinics here and elsewhere (ALL Democrat-supported / Republican-derided) because they're denied rights to health care: can't pay exorbitant rates to a legal crime syndicate -- the health insurance syndicate; is heartbreaking.

Worse, it's been ongoing and growing for decades.

Is there ANOTHER area of social policy than Health Care that reveals how far America's Fatal Flaw is revealed? The Bottom Line -- for me, you, family, friends and neighbors, our Representatives, our government -- trumps EVERYTHING!

Including human lives.

Other First World countries manage health-care beautifully, affordably and equitably. Why not America?

Something's DEEPLY wrong with America. Like a hidden malignant tumor they only discover far inside you after it's already metastasized to the body politic's primary organs and it's too late and the Chief of Staff counsels faith in the status-quo.

When the Bottom Line trumps which Americans live and die according to ability to pay (which is to say Wealth and Class and, often, Race), something's DEEPLY wrong with this country.

Finally, something's DEEPLY wrong with elected politicians who're paid to feed the tumor rather than seeking cures.

It's like dinner-gone-wrong at Graffiti's.

Only REAL serious, Razorbabies.

CBB - I live a comfortable distance away from Little Rock, and I can't stand the sight of blood, so I'm probably not a suitable voluneer for a medical clinic. I do volunteer considerable time to another worthy cause.

If the doctors of Little Rock were willing to contribute their skills to a regular free clinic, I'd be willing to make a modest financial donation to help cover the incidental costs, as an example to people who actually live there.

We have plenty of doctors in Arkansas who volunteer their time overseas to missionary services. I'd ask them to consider doing the same for their fellow Arkansans. I believe that the Almighty wants you to help the people in your home community too.

I just got off the phone with my sister, who is a doctor. I asked her why more doctors don't volunteer their time to free clinics. She explained that the payments they receive from Medicare are so low, services to those patients are considered to be virtual donations.

I wonder if the free clinic had a booth set up to give out info on getting help with expensive meds from the drug companies? maybe they figure that info is already available on tv.

God bless all the volunteers. in this day and age, most people I know who go to medical school (my kids' friends and classmates) do it because they want to help people, because it's their passion, etc. The idea of going to medical school to be a millionaire driving a new Lexus every year doesn't enter into it. I think HMOs and Medicare have taken that out of the picture anyway, for the most part.

it also means working six days a week, long hours every day, in the hospital on call every third (Im guessing here) night for four, eight, 12 years after college, spending most of your time away from your family if you have one, enormous debt in most cases, while, before the economy was so awful, anyway, their friends & classmates were out making money and going on vacations and having kids and building McMansions............in other words it takes dedication and passion, and not a desire to be rich. It dont work that way no mo'.

tina - You make a good point about the expense of the medicines. Regrettably, part of the deal on the current health care deal may be that Big Pharma will get longer terms on patent protection. That will certainly keep the cost of medicine and devices artificially inflated for years, compared to the competitive generic alternatives. I think the best way to tackle the problem of health care is to drive down costs through technology, competition, and intellectual property reform. (Tort reform? Not so much.)

I'll second what the good doctor said above--the volunteers were great. I served as a non-medical volunteer and worked within one of the 4 pods as a patient escort/runner. All the medical staff and lab personnel were friendly and helpful. It was amazing to see volunteers from all over Arkansas as well as some from Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee etc. I even saw name tags that said the volunteer was from Florida and another one from New York, NY!

The volunteers were told that this was not partisan event by both the organizers and Bill Halter and others. It is all about the patients. They were very pleased with the large turnout of volunteers in LR--more than in New Orleans and Houston. They also mentioned that it took a lot of donations to provide all the supplies etc. that were provided. There were people from all walks of life there as patients and as volunteers. As I mentioned above, I met one woman from NY that said she had been hearing about the clinics and wanted to help. She had never volunteered before and had never been to the south so she picked LR to come and volunteer. They had people there to serve as translators for the patients who needed that kind of aid also.

Unfortunately there were several patients that came through the area I was working that had toothaches but they couldn't do anything for them since there were no dental services provided. They had information at the checkout point to give people about free dental care, other free clinics etc.

It is sad that in a country that is supposed to be a leader in the world, we fall so far behind other countries in providing health care to those who need it. The care that was given today was only basic diagnostic tests and health care. Many of these people will need continuing care and monitoring of their health and will not be able to get it. That is what is disgusting.

there's some well-heeled grandmother on the telly right now urging us to re-think reform. She looks like a Republican doctor's wife if I've ever seen one, but you can't ever tell of course. I think its a pretty sure bet she never spent any time on the line @ Tysons anywhere.

I will re-think reform if she will come and do my job for just a couple of days. Say maybe next weekend. I have been working since 11 and normally I could stop now, but because last week I had a doctor appt. and missed some work and also had a fever and missed some work, I have to put in about four more hours, if I can manage it. I dont know how much I can manage but I know im gonna try.

Im uninsurable. i wont bore you with the story again. But that lady doesnt look like she's ever done without anything in her life. And I might've gotten a legal settlement that would at least keep me in medicine from the doctors who didnt know what they were doing and nearly killed me, were it not for tort reform. You can come work a couple of days for me, too, I'd' appreciate the break.

I dont qualify for SSDI because my rent + medical costs each month are more than the income allowed, and I have to live somewhere safe, dont need nothin fancy, just safe, so I'm out before we ever get to my medical issues. And I dont ever have any extra money. I've borrowed from peter to pay paul so many times, they both run now when they see me. ;) I know lots of us live this way. im lucky that I have a job I can still do, I suppose. It just doesnt come with benefits.

if you havent guessed it by now, it just irritates the HELL out of me to see actresses or real people, whatever they are, portraying people who are obviously well off tell us how bad healthcare reform is going to be for US. Like they care.

end of fit. will go back to work now. wish me luck staying awake. I come here when I finish batches or whatever, just for a little break and some good company.

While at the Medical Library, I wandered and wondered through the exhibit from the Holacaust Museum. The title: Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race. Could impoverished economies and poor program design be part of the problem, not to mention a behaviorial attitude towards realizng just how many have been moving about in the shadow economy in need of health care?

We quit being a "christian" nation a long time ago. Lip service means nothing. It's deeds and actions. Any time somebody drops the "C" word in a debate with me, they lose. Automatically.

As I tried to explain to my students, the good deed unnoticed is the greatest deed of all.

As for Blank Lincoln and and her partner in hypocrisy, Landrieu, not to mention Nelson or the fool, Lieberman, I hope they suffer from the voters' wrath.

NVR -
I was there today, too, as a runner/patient escort. Wish we could have found a way to meet.

I agree with everything you've said. Want to add that it was also one of the most personally rewarding things I've done in a long time. From the organizers, to the medical professionals, to the volunteers, to the patients themselves, everyone came together to make it work. The worst part was in seeing first hand just how desparate too many Arkansans are for medical attention.

I'm exhausted and my feet are killing me, but you know...it was so worthwhile!

Who is going to hear Wendell Potter speak tomorrow night at Philander? I was so impressed when I saw him on Bill Moyers.

Wendell Potter, Former Health Insurance Executive and current Senior Fellow on Health Care at the Center for Media and Democracy. This event will be held at the Kendall Center at Philander Smith College on Monday November 23rd, at 6:30pm. Wendell Potter was formerly Vice President of Corporate Communications for the CIGNA Corporation. He left CIGNA in early 2008 and in May 2009, became Senior Fellow on Health Care with the Center for Media and Democracy. On June 24, 2009 he testified before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee in Washington, DC.

Thank you hardheaded woman. I hope you get to do it again.

.

Actually, eL, we're going to try to do the next one in Kansas City coming up in December.

Thing is, we should all hope to get to the point that NO ONE needs to do it again.

HHW said--"Thing is, we should all hope to get to the point that NO ONE needs to do it again. "

HHW--I agree with what you said above and that it was rewarding. My feet and legs are killing me too. Too bad we didn't have some way to meet (or maybe we did and just didn't know it!).

NVR -
I was in Pod B. But I was also back and forth to Pod C escorting to tests and checkout.
Where were you?

I was in Pod C--not too far from the "comfort station" and the lab testing areas.

Then no doubt you encountered my husband, NVR. He was helping Justin.

Perhaps. Right now the only one that I can think of that fits that description had on a baseball cap and his first name starts with M?

NVR-
Yes, that's him! I hope he didn't do anything to offend you! Ha!

No. He was very nice--as was everyone from the volunteers to the organizational people. If you watch the video on KARK about the clinic, I am in the background in one shot. They are talking to the woman with asthma and some of the stations in Pod C are shown and there was a group of us talking to the nurse coordinator. It only lasts a few seconds but it was easy to spot myself when I realized what was in the background of the shot.

I'm glad to hear that. He can sometimes be rather 'supervisory'. Ha!
But he's a good man. And I spotted him in the background.
Are you talking about the few seconds just before Bill Halter came on? If so, then I remember seeing you but don't think we interacted. I remembered a lot of people when I watched the tape again.

A little more than a minute in, when they have some of the C pod in the background, I can also see Justin and some others in the background (including your husband I think) in the same shot where I am over on the left of the screen.

Just curious. Do any of you know how many medical people were doing triage?

eLwood--at one point I saw numbers that said they had around 300 medical volunteers and 900 non-medical volunteers. The station I was at and the ones nearby had 2 nurses for triage and one doctor in each exam room. Of course part of the number of medical volunteers included lab personnel as well.

We were probably within just a few feet of one another several times today! If we had only known!
Maybe we should have some sort of code to identify fellow ATers, like a Masonic handshake or something. Sure wish we could have met!
And how in the world are we still awake?! I'm worn out!

HHW--the only reason I am awake is that I took a nap! Yes, it seems a shame that we didn't meet when we probably saw each other several times. I know I talked to your husband a couple of times. Maybe Max should do a fund raiser and sell something with AT logos that would identify us to each other.

Yesterday I worked at the Little Rock Free Clinic. I didn't spend the day talking to the media like some who would like to run for U.S. Senate, nor did I spend the day bashing Blanche Lincoln with a press release, though I released one later. I WORKED at the free clinic all day. Initially as a patient escort and then later at the Logistics Coordinator for D Pod.

The people whom I was able to help yesterday were not just one race, socio-economic group, religion, or anything. Rather they represent the face of Arkansas.

Also, I didn't use the day to hawk my Senatorial aspirations. Rather I got down and worked amongst everyone else, taking care of those who need help. I brought some laughter everytime we announced the patient numbers for doctors in the Pod asking, "Who wants to play the Arkansas Free Clinic Lottery." Sure, I was a bit of a clown....but it brought smiles and make an otherwise dull period a smile.

I held people's hands at times, listened to their stories, like the woman who worked 14 years for UAMS and now doesn't have health care. Or the wonderful mother who has an unexplainable rash, accompanied by her mother from Oklahoma, whose son won't eat anything white. So I made her laugh by saying, "Well tell him he can't have sugar then."

It was a day to care for others and honestly EVERY member of Congress and all of our elected officials should take part in a free clinic. All of those in the "Tea Party" should come work a Free Clinic. In fact, I challenge all the other Senate candidates to follow my example and work a Free Clinic and I was proud who did work.

I was proud of Kathy Webb, Joyce Elliott, Richard Carroll, Terri Hollingsworth, and so many others who were there. They will get my financial support and physical support in their elections. What was more glaring is the Democrats who were NOT there. Look, there may be some who say I cannot win this race for U.S. Senate. Maybe you are right, but I will continue to talk about the issues, discuss workable solutions, and work to earn the support of others.

But what happened yesterday was not about politics. It was a confirmation about why we need true health care reform in this country. I am blessed to have been part of it.

HHW--I discovered there are 2 different videos on the KARK website that include me in them. One is a short, stand alone version on their news home page that was what I saw on the 6pm new. The other is their news highlight video from the 10pm broadcast (which I didn't see) that has me in the far background in several shots but a closer up head shot of me in the middle of the screen while the asthma patient was talking. I was standing at the "lab" with some of the patients I was escorting. That is the one I believe you mentioned where Bill Halter comes on. I never even knew that they were filming in the area!

I wonder how many of those folks (patients) bought lottery tickets on their way to and from the free clinic?

There are still solutions out there for people with urgent needs and little money to throw at the health care. Like individual medical plans (not insurances, this is a lost case, it is too late)

The lady in the first video could be helped instantly with a dental plan: http://dentalservice4less.com
hope this helps someone

Wait a minute. There is ALREADY a new free clinic in Little Rock where lots of doctors, nurses and others volunteer their time for the uninsured: the Harmony Health Clinic on Roosevelt Road. They can see many of these folks so spread the word!!