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  1. #1
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    Why Families Need Health Care Reform Now More Than Ever « MomsRising Blog

    "We, as a global community, could and should be doing more if we value our women. The majority of the global burden of maternal deaths occurs in the developing world. In fact, 66% occur in just 11 countries. While this statistic is an unjust reality, it may not be all that surprising. What did rattle me was the fact that the United States was ranked behind 40 other countries with regard to maternal care, leaving us in 41st place.

    As recently as last year, this number has dropped again. According to new UN data released late last year, we now find ourselves behind 49 other countries, positioning ourselves in 50th place when it comes to a woman’s risk of dying from complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

    I don’t know about you, but I find this news deplorable. The US spends more on healthcare per capita than any other country in the world and yet we are 50th in assuring women and children safer outcomes. If anything, I hope this information makes you pause, think and ask the same question I asked myself; how is this possible?

    Today marks the first anniversary of Health Care Reform. Since the Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act went into effect last year, now seems like as good an opportunity as any to take account of what was accomplished and what still remains precariously unsteady for those who might need care the most."
    http://www.momsrising.org/blog/why-f...ore-than-ever/

    Maternal Death during pregnancy, is there more we can do to prevent it?




    Sincerely,

    Andrew Lopez, RN
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    This as the Tea Party is doing all they can to take away a womans right to choose for her health care.

  3. #3
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    Sorry this reply is so late. Crucial point Andrew. Long before the Healthcare Reform Bill was the Millenium Development Goals project which initially revealed the statistical trends you mentioned from the World Health Organization I believe, regarding maternal and child health. Then, because of our rising infant mortality rates, the U.S. was technically considered a developing, third world nation. More pause, right? I believe the Healthcare Reform Bill would be more efficiently crafted if it were placed in the hands of a committee made up of representatives from Institute of Health, the AMA and the ANA. Take the insurance industry and bipartisan bureaucracy out of it.

    My two cents,

    R

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    So I'm assuming no one here works in research, right? What is the foundation for the UN stats? What percentage of births are by non-citizen/illegal immigrants from "developing nations"(read: grossly indaequate prenatal care, multiple con-cons, lowere SES initially)? What percentage of post-partum mortality is related to susbtance abuse? Some (coughBritaincough) nations do not include these populations in the same categories, when reporting.

    Is it an issue, yes. Is it a critical issue. Mmm, not so much, unless we are the American continent's hospital.

    Personally, higher education for women is the best prophylactic for overpopulation, domestic abuse, social inequity, and most of our other ills. Women with better paying jobs, and higher social standards are less likely to take Flotsam and Jetsom to bed. Women are (generally) motivated by stability. Men are motivated by sex.

    In a paradigm of, "you stoopid-you no worky- you no get money-you no get laid", valuation of females tends to increase, historically.

    Edit: of course, a blog is opinion. The problem is that it poses a question within a limited framework. Some research falls into this pattern as well(i.e., women don't need mammograms until >60 yoa). If you must support your theory... you will.
    Last edited by Rob72; 04-11-2011 at 11:14 AM.

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    I have to say I'm with Rob on this one - my own personal research into health care and so-called reform shows that Stats especially those put out by the UN and WHO are grossly misleading and in that they let each country self report things like infant mortality. For instance In the US all babies born at 28 weeks or greater who take their first breath are considered live births but they have a much higher rate of morbidity and mortality. In Canada babies born at or below 28 weeks are not counted in the mortality statistics even if they take their first breath. There are no heroic measures taken and when they die they are not counted as they weren't considered a live birth in the first place.

    As a person who is involved in the healthcare of a grossly underserved population I can tell you the Healthcare as it is unfolding will be a nightmare. It will offer coverage to more people but drastic cuts in cost will mean a lower level of care - such as that provided in the UK where heart attack victims are routinely sent home on tylenol and even routine surgeries for things like gallstones and kidney stones and treatment for many cancers can be delayed by waiting lists for as long as two years.

    I just hope the people come to their senses and repeal this dog before it's too late.


    H

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    Quote Originally Posted by hppygr8ful View Post
    I have to say I'm with Rob on this one - my own personal research into health care and so-called reform shows that Stats especially those put out by the UN and WHO are grossly misleading and in that they let each country self report things like infant mortality. For instance In the US all babies born at 28 weeks or greater who take their first breath are considered live births but they have a much higher rate of morbidity and mortality. In Canada babies born at or below 28 weeks are not counted in the mortality statistics even if they take their first breath. There are no heroic measures taken and when they die they are not counted as they weren't considered a live birth in the first place.

    As a person who is involved in the healthcare of a grossly underserved population I can tell you the Healthcare as it is unfolding will be a nightmare. It will offer coverage to more people but drastic cuts in cost will mean a lower level of care - such as that provided in the UK where heart attack victims are routinely sent home on tylenol and even routine surgeries for things like gallstones and kidney stones and treatment for many cancers can be delayed by waiting lists for as long as two years.

    I just hope the people come to their senses and repeal this dog before it's too late.


    H
    I thought for a moment you were talking about this country. Where insurances are denying treatments that are too expensive and not worthwhile in saving lives or alleviating pain. Where insurance companies are denying coverage to women for mammograms, because they feel they are done to often and they do not want to pay for them. Where they are denying coverage for Colonoscopies as they do not need to be done every 5 years as recommended as they cost to much. And the list goes on. I see all these repeat gall bladders pains in the ER as Insurance companies feel they are not necessary, and if people would just change their diet, it would not be needed at all.


    PS were you saying Under served or undeserved. just curious

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    Quote Originally Posted by Teeituptom View Post
    I thought for a moment you were talking about this country. Where insurances are denying treatments that are too expensive and not worthwhile in saving lives or alleviating pain. Where insurance companies are denying coverage to women for mammograms, because they feel they are done to often and they do not want to pay for them. Where they are denying coverage for Colonoscopies as they do not need to be done every 5 years as recommended as they cost to much. And the list goes on. I see all these repeat gall bladders pains in the ER as Insurance companies feel they are not necessary, and if people would just change their diet, it would not be needed at all.


    PS were you saying Under served or undeserved. just curious
    Hyperbolic exaggeration is not a valid argument model. "Denying mammograms" was/is a debated component of the Healthcare Reform Act, that the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force(established by the current administration) floated a little "let's see what everyone says", pseudo-study and press release. Haven't heard of any insurers doing that. it is much cheaper to pay for a scan, biopsy and removal than chemo.

    I work for a teaching hospital, and as such, we accept pretty much any insurance, including Medicare/Medicade, and our own negotiated plans. I have yet to see an insurance company denying screens on a generally accepted basis for common conditions. I'm sure there are some that do, but my suspicion is that they would be the very limited, traditional insurance model, that insures for catastrophic events, not maintenance.

    As for frequent consumers of trauma care constituting highly contributing members of society, I'd love to see your longitudinal info on that. I'm not a eugenecist, but neither do I ascribe to the theory that anyone can be anything they want to be.

    We know (Fact->) that higher SES and education = increased longevity. Now, just as we have outliers in this group, we have outliers at the lower end of SES. For society to function, and not devolve into some Turd World model where The Gifted lead/have priveledge and everyone else has "common means" (read hand-to-mouth), we have to base social decisions on the majority- not the vocal minority.(Please don't waste time comparing the US to the aforementioned model. Statements such as that indicate a gross lack of extra-national experience. Its all cool & stuff on the campus, but real world, it don't fly) I have no problem with this, being in a (health)minority myself.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Rob72 View Post
    So I'm assuming no one here works in research, right? What is the foundation for the UN stats? What percentage of births are by non-citizen/illegal immigrants from "developing nations"(read: grossly indaequate prenatal care, multiple con-cons, lowere SES initially)? What percentage of post-partum mortality is related to susbtance abuse? Some (coughBritaincough) nations do not include these populations in the same categories, when reporting.

    Is it an issue, yes. Is it a critical issue. Mmm, not so much, unless we are the American continent's hospital.

    Personally, higher education for women is the best prophylactic for overpopulation, domestic abuse, social inequity, and most of our other ills. Women with better paying jobs, and higher social standards are less likely to take Flotsam and Jetsom to bed. Women are (generally) motivated by stability. Men are motivated by sex.

    In a paradigm of, "you stoopid-you no worky- you no get money-you no get laid", valuation of females tends to increase, historically.

    Edit: of course, a blog is opinion. The problem is that it poses a question within a limited framework. Some research falls into this pattern as well(i.e., women don't need mammograms until >60 yoa). If you must support your theory... you will.

    Who are Flotsam and Jetsom, I taint never heard of those guys befores. Are the Basketball playa's.

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    Oh, heck, I'll just keep on going. We also have the highest trauma survibility rate (last time I checked) on any nation in the world. Of course, this is also premium care $$$. What no one is examining is the specific incidental use of trauma care, i.e., how many members of the same family/community use these services per annum? Is this oprtimized use of the healthcare dollar, are we saving people who contribute taxes, mentorship, education and children with the same qualities to the society?

    Delivery of care is a heart-strings issue. Problem is, the law of unintended consequences will invariably have effect. Save the drunk teenager, involved in his Level I 85mph MVA twice, giving him a chance to finally wipe out a family of 6. Sure, we saved little Johnnie, but what was the real cost...

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    Quote Originally Posted by Rob72 View Post
    Oh, heck, I'll just keep on going. We also have the highest trauma survibility rate (last time I checked) on any nation in the world. Of course, this is also premium care $$$. What no one is examining is the specific incidental use of trauma care, i.e., how many members of the same family/community use these services per annum? Is this oprtimized use of the healthcare dollar, are we saving people who contribute taxes, mentorship, education and children with the same qualities to the society?

    Delivery of care is a heart-strings issue. Problem is, the law of unintended consequences will invariably have effect. Save the drunk teenager, involved in his Level I 85mph MVA twice, giving him a chance to finally wipe out a family of 6. Sure, we saved little Johnnie, but what was the real cost...

    But little Johnnie might turn out to be Governor Perry. Or the Tan Man himself or is he now the crying man. For that we should pull the plug on little johnny. I have helped so many be saved. I truly admit I never wonder anymore who are what these people become. All that does is interfere with my golf.

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