The cost of healthcare is a much larger subject than you may think

It's time we think about the cost of healthcare in this country. 

I'm not talking about the cost of care when we get sick, I'm talking about all the money spent keeping ourselves well. Think about it. 

I just went through a preventative colonoscopy and received a clean bill of health, much better than when I went through the same procedure 12 years ago. At that time, the surgeon found many, many problems and advised me to have another procedure done in one to three years. 

Well, I got busy, then my insurance changed, then I was working so much I didn't take time for such a procedure. 

This year, my physician suggested I have it done. 

"I don't know how much your insurance will cover but you've used up all your deductible this year so have it done before the end of the year," he said. 

So, I joked and laughed the day before and shared my humor with the nurses and anesthesiologist at the hospital before I went into The Room. 

Everything is fine but it made me think about all the things I've done to improve my health since 2003 and the expense/investment involved. 

We do much more for preventative healthcare than many nations in the world. 

Since 2003, Linda and I bought a treadmill and we walk pretty faithfully three or more times a week for at least 20 minutes each session. 

I lost 60 pounds after I became aware of a problem with my back and diabetes. I got my diabetes under control and my back problem as gone away, even though I regained about half that weight I lost. 

I got an app for my phone (My Fitness Pal) that helps me log my food intake and exercise every day. 

Speaking of exercise, that treadmill cost several hundred dollars but that amount is minute compared to the YMCA I joined and then left several years ago. (I know I need to go back.) That YMCA has been an multimillion dollar investment over the years when you consider not only construction costs, but all that has been spent on maintenance and employee salaries and the many hours each year volunteers give to helping kids live healthier lives. 

What about the investment my physician has made in his profession? Many years of education beyond college, continuing education, and way too much money that every physician spends on malpractice insurance. I don't go to see my doctor just for medicine and advice when I'm ill. He gives me advice on how to stay healthy, too. 

We can talk about the money invested in local hospitals. I thank God regularly for the fine Catholic hospitals in Brazil and in Crawfordsville. Our family has used both of them and I have written news stories and done interviews with healthcare professionals who work there.

So, when we think of healthcare costs, let's not limit the subject to Obamacare or socialized medicine. Let's think about the big picture. 

WIETS, St. Vincent Clay help those who want to be self-reliant

By FRANK PHILLIPS

frankphi@hotmail.com


ares to take Wilburn Jones' blood pressure Tuesday afternoon at St. Vincent Clay Hospital. -Frank Phillips photo

In a perfect world there would be no need for WIETS, or St. Vincent Clay Hospital.

In a perfect world, there would be no misfortune, life would turn out exactly as we hoped, everyone would make perfect decisions and no one would become ill.

In a perfect world, the Indianapolis Colts would be going to the Super Bowl for the 41st time, not the first time in 26 years.
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WIETS and St. Vincent Clay Hospital don't influence the NFL, although St. Vincent Health works closely with the Colts through the year, particularly with the Colts Kickoff Kid program.

St. Vincent Health and St. Vincent Clay Hospital exists to minister to the bodies, minds and spirits of those in need, because the world isn't perfect.

WIETS (Western Indiana Employment & Training Services Inc.) also exists because the world isn't perfect. There are people who find themselves unemployed or underemployed, sometimes through bad decisions made by themselves or others and sometimes through absolutely no fault of their own.

When people are energetic and trying to be self-reliant, they sometimes need a hand up, rather than a handout.

Take Mandy Wood, for example.

Mandy, 21, a single mom with a 17-month-old son, remembers the day she applied for financial assistance to make ends meet.

She was referred to IMPACT (Indiana Manpower Placement and Comprehensive Training ), and then placed in the WIETS youth program, where she was assisted by Audrey Harbison.

Mandy has always been a nurturing person. She thought about going into veterinary medicine, but after working with animals, she decided she would rather help care for humans.

She took the opportunity to job shadow at St. Vincent Clay. That experience helped her decide to take a three-week class and become a Certified Nursing Assistant. She was hired by St. Vincent Clay Hospital and now attends Ivy Tech where she hopes to enter the nursing program as soon as possible.

CNAs answer patient call lights and work with patients if the services of a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) aren't required.

Mandy's experience with WIETS and the hospital is not unique. Once or twice a year, WIETS approaches the hospital about someone in their program who might be a good fit for the hospital. Four people in the past three years have been placed at St. Vincent Clay through WIETS, said Andrea Baysinger, RN, BSN, St. Vincent Clay Hospital Clinical and Community Health Coordinator.

Mandy likes the variety of her work.

“It's really nice to do something different all the time,” she said.

WIETS picks up some of her expenses, such as day care, paying for her scrubs (the blue clothing she wears on duty) and some travel expenses. The program also pays a stipend to interns, said Sharon White, who works with WIETS and the IMPACT program in Clay County.

Mandy is grateful to WIETS for all they have done.

“They have really helped with the financial part,” she said. “This couldn't have happened without them.”

She is taking general education classes and hopes to get into the nursing program at Ivy Tech

Mandy credits WIETS with the ability to earn a living for herself and her son.

“This helps us to fulfill our mission,” Baysinger said. “It truly is a win-win situation for everyone.”