{"id":482497,"date":"2010-03-26T18:33:41","date_gmt":"2010-03-26T22:33:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/seattletimes.nwsource.com\/html\/northwestvoices\/2011453384_thecontentiousdebateoverhealthcarereform.html?syndication=rss"},"modified":"2010-03-26T18:33:41","modified_gmt":"2010-03-26T22:33:41","slug":"the-contentious-debate-over-health-care-reform","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/482497","title":{"rendered":"The contentious debate over health-care reform"},"content":{"rendered":"

Violent reaction unhealthy for our country<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am horrified by the behavior of those who disagree with the just-passed health-care bill [\u201cBlogger stands by call to break Dems windows,\u201d Times, news, March 26]. The unbridled anger of some has boiled over into actions I thought I would never see in this country.<\/p>\n

Throwing bricks through windows, cutting gas lines and threatening to assassinate the children of any official who voted in favor of the health care bill!? This violent reaction is to a bill that seeks to provide health care to all Americans.<\/p>\n

Why did we not see this type of reaction when George Bush got this country into two unnecessary wars? Thousands have died, those wars have bankrupted this country, both financially and morally, and yet not a peep is heard from these people who claim to know what fiscal responsibility looks like.<\/p>\n

To make matters worse, these unbalanced people are encouraged by Republican lawmakers and fueled by the hate-mongers on Fox News (I use the term \u201cnews\u201d loosely). These people need to be called what they are: terrorists. They need to be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.<\/p>\n

This type of hatred is unhealthy for our country. This is not what a working democracy looks like. Somewhere along the line, the partisan politics trumped working for the greater good of the people. We have deteriorated into a divided nation. A divided nation will soon fall.<\/p>\n

\u2014 C.B. Samuel-Zulch, Clyde Hill<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Health care like the congressman\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was pleased to hear that Congressman Dave Reichert is getting excellent medical attention and is expected to make a full recovery from a subdural hematoma [\u201cReichert recovering from blood on the brain,\u201d news, March 26].<\/p>\n

It\u2019s too bad that he sought to deny health-care access to 32 million Americans, who, faced with the same medical condition, would want and deserve the same lifesaving care he enjoys.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jonathan Rosenblum, Seattle<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The missing element: customer service<\/strong><\/p>\n

I worked in health care for 20 years. Reform is needed, but a big piece is missing. The health-care system is a service industry, yet lacks true customer service.<\/p>\n

Most health-care organizations don\u2019t treat patients as valued customers. Some say the real customers are employers and government, as they pay the bills. Patients\u2019 preferences are ignored or dismissed.<\/p>\n

Consider typical communication: medical jargon, acronyms and vague explanations. Once I got a bill for \u201csurgical miscellaneous.\u201d Often there\u2019s no information (try asking \u201cwhat will this cost?\u201d). Evening or weekend appointments are rare. \u201cWaiting rooms\u201d tell us to expect to wait.<\/p>\n

Would we tolerate that in other industries? Rental-car companies try harder. Grocers ask, \u201cCan I help you find something?\u201d Even banks, once known for short hours and stodgy culture, understand customer service.<\/p>\n

Most health-care organizations don\u2019t use computers well. Banks securely share private information worldwide. Clinics and hospitals that don\u2019t share test results and X-rays have no excuse. Ripe for errors and duplication, paper records are a hassle and downright dangerous for patients.<\/p>\n

Good customer service knows no politics, yet respecting patients as customers is not a priority. It\u2019s time to speak up, push back, and demand better.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Diane Stollenwerk, Seattle<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Violent reaction unhealthy for our country I am horrified by the behavior of those who disagree with the just-passed health-care bill [\u201cBlogger stands by call to break Dems windows,\u201d Times, news, March 26]. The unbridled anger of some has boiled over into actions I thought I would never see in this country. Throwing bricks through […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2861,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-482497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2861"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=482497"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482497\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=482497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=482497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=482497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}