One-day Healthcare clinics at Occupy sites. Brainstorming needed

[Turn CO Blue]

This is not much of a post, but I had an idea and a few people said "great idea". To be frank, I have to put in at least 12 hours on a project today because I have a looming deadline but I really, really wanted to get this thought out there.

I propose that we (the 99%) organize and do some fundraising to set up some free one-day healthcare (and dental) clinics at some of the Occupy sites say on Fridays of each week. Those would need volunteers, doctors, supplies, etc. Maybe it's nuts and unfeasible, but whenever these kinds of free healthcare or free screening events have been held, they often get thousands of people to attend.

And the reason I like this so much is that the message at the Teaparty events was just so overwhelmingly about the negative framing of socialized healthcare so passionate (hateful) and relentless that they pretty much controlled the public dialogue...but people everywhere, on every corner, on your street, are in need for a doctor or PA or dentist to take a look at them, and they may have few options they go about choosing shelter or food over getting that nagging pain or issue looked at. We all just want the healthcare debate to go back to the true issue - that many people need a doctor to help them, and maybe some medicines, and they are too expensive for a huge percentage of the population...and these people SUFFER because of it. And feel frustrations, stress, shame, regret and sea of negative emotions over the costs...which cannot help the health. Healthcare is not about profit machines - healthcare is about CARE, DAMN IT!

Maybe this shifts the focus away from the fraud and lack of accountability for the criminal actions of the banks, but I seriously feel that the 99% has a medical care and preventative healthcare issue - and that many people in debt of to their eyeballs are there because of medical debt or outrageous bills and premiums. In other words, I feel the issues are utterly interrelated. Big Pharma and big medical insurance and the ownership of our Congress is a done deal.

I guess what I'm asking for is for people who do have time and energy to take the lead on this idea or improving upon this idea(if anyone has a passion for it) and the DU energy and action-takers to perhaps brainstorm in this thread. Maybe list some resources for organizations that do know how to set up these clinics. find out how to find volunteers healthcare professionals, how to find supplies, how to set up fundraising, see if anyone at some of the bigger OWS general assemblies objects. Anyone who wants to post a better thread about this - free free to do so!

None of this would be intended to belittle the efforts of the free clinic associations but instead of actively augment their work and ask for their organizational help and use the MOMENTUM and power of messaging of OWS to help the 49M people (part of the 99%) without health insurance.

Anyway, there would be thousands in attendance on these clinic days like the ones we've seen on the news, and more importantly some people would get some help. And I would definitely donate for OWS medical supplies and health clinics --- and many of you would as well.

Okay, I cannot wait to see the poo-pooing and flames from some here...but honestly, I really do have a deadline and won't check back much today.

Have a great day...

[valerief]

1. Wonder what freeclinics.us would say. nt

[coalition_unwilling]

2. Brilliant movement-building idea. Emphatic K&R! - n/t

[Vincardog]

3. Great idea. I hope it happens

[Sgent]

4. I like it

even if you can't get a physician or dentist on site even a RN or LPN can perform a huge range of basic services, especially with orders (flu shots, blood sugar, blood pressure, etc.)

Good Luck!!!

[kestrel91316]

5. If all you offer is screening for BP and BG, what you do is take people who may NOT

have a "preexisting condition" and give them one. Then they can't get affordable insurance anymore.

Free clinics need to actually TREAT people.

[OneGrassRoot]

6. I swear, Wishadoo was created for this...

For those who aren't familiar with it, I invite you to visit www.wishadoo.org

There are tools there to help coordinate and discuss and post events, and even a business directory to highlight the companies working to help Occupy.

I just had dental work and am not working on all cylinders, but by tomorrow I would LOVE to discuss further.

I STILL haven't officially launched Wishadoo due to health issues these last few months (I'm one of many with no insurance over the last decade, so I empathize with everyone needing dental, medical, vision care, hearing services, etc.)

Of late, I kind of figured that Wishadoo was just waiting for what is now known as Occupy to be birthed; the site was really created to help further the efforts and to be in place for the next level of Occupy, when we Occupy our neighborhoods and our lives.

I would also LOVE to collect positive, inspiring stories from each Occupy city for Wishadoo's off-shoot blog network: Our Collective Good.

Please, I'd be honored to work with others to make this clinic idea and anything else a reality.

Just let me know.

:hi:

:thumbsup:

[Turn CO Blue]

10. I will definitely read up on Wishadoo. Message me anytime.

Just this whole weekend is swamped (overcommitment, poor planning on my part, LOL). Just stopped in for a peek.

[Tippy]

7. Occupy Nashville is branching out too, They are going to NES

By Phil Williams
Chief Investigative Reporter

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- NewsChannel 5 Investigates has uncovered even more questions about how the Nashville Electric Service spends your money. We found big salaries, big cars and big hotel bills -- all charged to ratepayers at the Metro-owned utility.

"You can look all over the city, all over this country, people are hurting," NES President Decosta Jenkins told Metro Council members last year, assuring him that he felt people's pain.

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/15935170/nc5-uncovers-more-questions-about-nes-spending

However the clinic idea is a really good one..

[Scuba]

8. Excellent thought. I would recommend you consider partnering with an existing...

... organization rather than try to start from scratch. The logistical support needed is significant.

I believe American's healthcare/health insurance problems are one of the keys to our financial ruin. Eventually we'll have Medicare for All or we won't be a nation.

[Turn CO Blue]

9. Agreed. Did you see the article Dr Oz wrote about a

clinic he worked in and some of it reminded him of the third world??? Arrgh. We have some work to do in this nation.

Just peeked in. I hope to comment more tomorrow.

[eridani]

13. +1 Many county medical societies have something like this going already

Partnering with them, or maybe asking them to pay a visit to an OWS site would be useful things to try.

[OneGrassRoot]

14. I agree with the health insurance industry being a key to ruin. :(

Other than the free clinics themselves (which Big Ed and Keith O. have partnered with), there aren't good networks that I've found -- and I've been searching.

There is dentistryfromtheheart.org, which is good, but I haven't found anything similar for other healthcare services.

I really want to gather a network of more Main Street providers and give them exposure; they're brave to not join in with the huge networks, some of which are even being bought BY the huge insurance companies.

Working with Main Street providers versus those who are one cog in the wheel of Wall Street megalithic organizations would be great for this idea, imho.

:hi:

[sabrina 1]

11. No poo-pooing from me. I think it is a great idea

and very much in line with what they are actually trying to do at many of the Occupy Sites. They have Medics and tents where people can get treatment for minor things if the police don't tear them apart.

[Voice for Peace]

12. great idea

I think all urges for the betterment of humanity fit under the banner of OWS