Need for Preventive Care, Health and Wellness Resources

In recent weeks, I was not surprised with the large amount of interest in the national healthcare debate generated by Americans as Congressional members conducted “town meetings” across the country. This issue will affect all Americans in such a personal way that the high emotional feelings-both for and against-is only to be expected. Like many people, I struggle with this issue on so many levels. I am fortunate to work for an employer that offers excellent health benefits, but I also have family members who do not. I do support the idea of universal health coverage for all Americans, but I understand why some people don’t, and I even support them on some levels. Suffering a chronic disease or debilitating illness should not bankrupt an individual or family, but I’m deeply concerned about the huge costs and mounting national debt implementing a national healthcare program will incur on the nation, its citizens, and future generations.

As a longtime employee of my current employer, I’ve possessed excellent healthcare coverage throughout my adult life. As a relatively healthy person, I’ve rarely had to use my health insurance, except for regular check-ups and the occasional mild illness. I work hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly to maintain my “chubby” weight, eat a balanced diet full of healthy essentials, etc. Of course, these healthy habits were instilled in my at an early age, so I must credit my parents for setting me on the right path. I know I am lucky on so many levels, but I also take personal responsibility for my health and work hard to stay healthy. However, millions of people are not as fortunate as me. Millions lack health insurance and struggle to pay for basic healthcare services. Millions lack proper nutrition, which is so important to maintaining one’s health.

And there are plenty of folks who simply choose to live unhealthy, reckless lives and some of them burden the healthcare system in ways that ultimately affect us all. Those who oppose government’s increased “presence” in healthcare often cite examples of folks leading unhealthy lifestyles who develop chronic or debilitating diseases as a result, who possess no health insurance, and ultimately become huge burdens on the healthcare system and society in general. Many of these people require expensive ongoing treatments, drugs, etc. I know these folks firsthand, some are in my family. I’ve watched close relatives destroy their early years with drugs and alcohol, only to develop conditions requiring costly treatments, expensive procedures, lots of daily medications as a result. And never work a day in their life! I find it unconscionable and vehemently oppose spending the rest of my life paying taxes to support this type of behavior.

I do not want big government telling me how to live my life, what to eat, when to exercise, etc., but if government and the American taxpayer help pay for my medical insurance, shouldn’t they have a right to demand I incorporate some type of wellness program into my lifestyle? And if government will play an increased role in “monitoring” lifestyles, appropriate funding and support for wellness programs and preventive care needs to be included in the final reform bill. Millions of Americans, especially those living in rural areas, do not have access to high quality preventive care, health and wellness resources, to help them improve their health. And those with pre-existing chronic conditions may not know how to improve their lives. As the national healthcare debate continues, my hope is that much focus and attention will be given to ensuring that these types of programs are included as part of the reform measures.

How much influence and power should the government have in dictating to people how to live their lives? From a personal perspective, I don’t need government telling me what to do, but from a taxpayer’s perspective, I want everyone to take some personal responsibility to do what they can to support the new system. This is a huge moral dilemma for me.

Introduction

Hi, I am creating this blog to support an online course I am currently enrolled in, which is part of an online Healthcare Informatics certification program. The course is titled "Internet & the Future of Patient Care." I will use this blog to document my activities, thoughts, opinions, and discussion topics.