In my hometown newspaper today, Dr. Michael Camardi, a geriatrician, answers a question from an irate enthusiast who is tired of the shoddy treatment and healthcare his elderly grandmother received at a hospital and then a nursing home.
If this is what they do to people, I’ll keep her at home and do my best.
Dr. Camardi’s reply is interesting because he’s part of our healthcare system and a casual observer of what is going on.
Believe me when I say, ‘there are days when I really do know what you mean.’
He states that often times the system values its own interest higher than the individual- “… it diminishes the person to the level of a profit-and-loss statement.”
I encourage you to read the whole article in the Roanoke Times. The doctor offers some valuable suggestions. Pay close attention to these remarks:
“Due to budget cuts, I am noticing a problematical trend in our clinics in that we do not service patients anymore, we simply process them.” (his words, my emphasis)
Since I deal in the universe of people with chronic illnesses, I agree with Dr. Camardi’s observation 1000%. If you have visited a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital lately, you may feel like the “process” is running your healthcare decisions– not you.
And for that luxury and privilege of letting the system think and act for you, you’ve become little more than a piece of processed meat, rather than a human being with needs, wants, desires and feelings! (Plus note: Dr. Camardi remarks are based on an observation he made in August 2005. Surely you can agree that our medical climate has worsened since then.)
Today’s post is aimed at encouraging you to decide how to protect yourself and your loved ones in such a health environment.
What are your best choices?
What will you do to get healthy and stay healthy?
Surely, trying to regain your health is a good defense and therefore a good offense against mal-treatment and inefficiency of the healthcare system later on. The reality of this is that living with chronic illnesses means that you have to look out for yourself more than ever. As for the elderly and/or incapacitated? Our job is to monitor and help with their care that much more so.
Thanks so much for reading this post at Get Well Health.
Cinda Crawford, creator of Sacred Cellular Healing and “Learn How to Heal Yourself” membership course
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