Health Care Responsibilities in Tough Economic Times

The economy is terrible. People are losing their jobs and homes. The hospital is so deep in debt it may close. What else could happen? In these troubled times it is easy to be overwhelmed by what is happening. Ann Landers, the late newspaper columnist, said, “When life’s problems seem overwhelming, look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself fortunate.” That is great advice for us since most of us are, indeed, fortunate even in such difficult times. But what about the people who are overwhelmed? Who will speak up to help them?

My wife and I were honored when we met a woman who has spent her life seeking out and speaking for those who are unable to help themselves. Caroline Love grew up in England during World War II. She knew she wanted to help others so she became a nurse and subsequently married a physician, Dr. Murray Cox. She worked tirelessly to help those in London who were struggling to survive. Queen Elizabeth noticed Caroline’s work and honored her with the title, Lady Cox of Queensbury. To gain a broader and more influential audience, Caroline later became a member of the House of Lords. With the power of her new title and the British government behind her, she sought to assist those worldwide who could not speak for themselves. She carried aid and support to the most disadvantaged dwelling in some of the most dangerous places on Earth. She told a story of convincing the Soviet Air Force to fly both her and the supplies into a war-torn country where no one was supposed to enter. The Soviet pilot told her that while he could not land the plane, he would fly low and slowly over the runway to drop the supplies. As the supplies were pushed out of the plane, the cargo master was horrified to see that Lady Cox had jumped out with the supplies! She rolled to a stop in the dirt of the runway. She intended to see the people to whom the aid was sent no matter what!

When she returned to England, Caroline’s first stop was the House of Lords where she pled the case of the oppressed people. This was to be her mission in life—seek out, help, and plead the case of those in need.

Do we seek out those who are needy and try to help them? As healthcare professionals, we treat those in need if they come to us, but what about those who are unable to reach us? Many cannot come to our clinics because of transportation issues or resources to pay for care. Some do not come because they think they are beyond help or for many other reasons. Do we work to overcome these problems and get them the help they need? This is our job as healthcare professionals, not to treat just the disease, but also the patient. In these difficult times we all must become advocates for our neighbors whether they are next door, around the block, across the city, across the country, or around the world. If an English lady can jump out of an airplane in a war-torn country to help someone, surely each of us can walk across the street or around the corner to help someone in need. The rewards can be greater than you can imagine. Amanda Perlyn, founder of “To Have and To Hug” said it perfectly, “Get out there and help someone—someone whose pain is greater than your own. You will realize a change in your own life in the process.”

Terry Treadwell, MD, FACS
Senior Clinical Editor, WOUNDS
woundseditor@hmpglobal.com