This is germane to not only events in a America right now, but also disparities in healthcare.
Tag Archives: healthcare disparities
Movie Review: Going In Style
For the past few years it was pretty hard for me to see movies.
For one, I was worried about my oxygen tank running out (I had one leak in the theatre once) & it was hard to fit it in the seats even in the disabled seating area.
(Even when I had my portable concentrator I was self conscious about if it was making too much noise even when it was stowed under my seat.)
But now, post transplant I find I can go to a matinee & enjoy myself without having to worry too much about crowds & germs (I do carry my mask in case).
My attention is also better.
It’s a relief because I really do enjoy movies, documentaries especially.
Guest Blog Share: What It’s Like
As promised, I have another great share from Erin Gilmer. (You’ll remember last month I shared a post from Erin’s blog, Health As a Human Right.)
She graciously gave me permission to re-share. It was published to her blog back in May. I know there’s been times where many of us can relate to what Erin shares below.
It speaks volumes about the pressures all of us with chronic illness, rare disease & disabilities face when trying to manage our own care proactively in a less than ideal system.
Guest Blog Share: A Brief Tantrum
Erin Gilmer & I have became fast friends when we started interacting on Twitter. She & I relate on a lot of levels what it’s like to live with chronic illness.
Johns Hopkins Performs World’s First HIV-To-HIV Organ Transplant
The HOPE Act was a big move in reversing the stance of disqualifying donors & patients alike because of HIV Status. The passage of this act in 2013, led to changes & developing safeguards for transplants in the HIV population.
“Before this act at least 500-600 lives were lost per year because both donors & patients were disqualified from organ transplantation. ” (A statistic taken from this article.)
Direct Primary Care (DPC): In My Area Now…Possibly Yours Soon?
I had found out recently about this insurance-free approach to healthcare from periodic excitement about it on Twitter. Yet, I hadn’t seen it in action yet, so it was harder for me to grasp the concept & find out exactly how it worked.
Very recently, of my friends alerted me to the fact that it is indeed in our area now by pointing out this article in one of our local news publications. It’s a great practical explanation of how it works (from a practice who has moved to using it).
Interesting But Alarming News
This was a difficult alert to read. However, I commend my center for looking into such issues & challenging transplant centers as a whole to do better by their patients.
While this was a liver transplant based study, I am sure livers are not the only organ that are affected by such practices.
When Xenophobia Kills
I read this article just now. I don’t even have the right words to put this post together, because I am seeing red. I am devastated for this woman & her family.
I am not a self-loathing Caucasian but I admit when it comes to healthcare I am relieved that I am not subject to certain injustices & stereotypes because of my heritage. Stories like these really disturb me in a deep way. This woman was my age so it also hits home a bit harder.
Encouraging News Regarding Organ Donation & Transplants
An article published today in USA Today was welcome news for me to read. The latest statistics from UNOS are also really encouraging. I think we’re finally starting to see some small dent in the donor shortage.
More people needing transplants are receiving them, & we are obtaining more donors. We are also closing some gaps in ethnic disparities in transplants, too.
Response: Health Affairs Blog Post: It’s Time For Fairness In Organ Distribution
I don’t know how to feel about this blog post to be quite honest. I know that the allocation & final rules vary organ to organ, so I can only speak to lungs, not liver. I wish though, that the Health Affairs Blog would have made that distinction in the title of this post because this clearly only addresses livers. Not other organs in contrast or comparison, so it’s not a wholly balanced discussion.
AS I LIVE & BREATHE 