Today is V-Day, Vaccination Day for the HINI, Swine flu. Beginning at 4pm, at our Primary Care Clinics in San Francisco, the Department of Public Health, will start vaccinating our patients and continue until we run out of vaccine. We, put out a call for volunteers, especially nurses and NP's, to help triage and vaccinate this week. Due to the looming possibility of long lines on saturday and evening clinics, many primary care providers like myself, have our fingers and toes crossed that, despite budget cuts and lay-offs, we will avoid problems and provide adequate nursing care to vaccinate 100's of patients who are calling us about the Flu shots. It doesn't matter if you have insurance or not. What does matter is your age (kids and young adults), pregnancy and high risk diseases like asthma that make it a good idea you get vaccinated.
Yesterday, I attended a conference about treating "Anxiety" in primary care. UC San Francisco, SF Department of Public Health and Kaiser put together a great in-service for primary care providers struggling to take care of patients with dual diagnosis including problems with substance abuse. Every speaker discussed our "dysfunctional health care system" and tips for providers to stay sane with growing pools of patients, dwindling resources, shorter visit times, larger numbers of patients without insurance,limits on what insurance will provide and pay for and now, the growing possibility of a Flu-pandemic, that truly is the "Monster at our Door" described brilliantly by Mike Davis from UC Irvine. We also learned that there is a shortage of primary care providers, around 1/2 million by conservative estimates, who, in study after study, provide the most cost-effective, best care thru prevention and early treatment. Personally, I agree with CNA/NNOC, that the best solution is a "Medicare for All, Single-Payer System of payment, in addition to increasing the numbers of Nurse Practitioners and Nurses on the front lines of care as a better alternative in reforming care than what is emerging from Congress. Tips for staying sane for providers are nice, but how do you stay sane in an insane system?
All of the above, makes me more anxious just thinking about the future of care in the United States. The back-drop of our Congress, especially those Blue Dogs and Republicans who just want to KILL any meaningful health insurance reform with a robust public option, makes me want to scream. Like Toddlers who hold their breath and turn Blue to get their way, these Representatives are ensuring a "CODE BLUE" if they get their way. I just want to take each and every one of these folks to work with me, especially Senator Lieberman, make them take care of each and every flu-patient or sick patient that is going to be harmed by their votes. If you want to play nurse or doctor, then role up your sleeves for real, put on a mask and help out.
So, as we go live tonight, hold us all in the light as the Quakers say, as we vaccinate the Public to prevent an HINI pandemic that every credible Public Health official in the world says is ultimately on the way. I got my H1NI monday and feel great by the way for those who are afraid to take it. I'm more afraid of getting HINI, like a marathon-running Sacramento nurse did last year and died of the consequences of exposure to her patients. Thanks, CNA/NNOC for pitching a fit about the lack of safety precautions, including N95 masks in our hosptals in California.
Finally, I'll be thinking of those brave American families who in the 50's roled up their sleeves to get the Salk and later Sabbine vaccine, administered by heroic Public Health Nurses on the front lines of ending a disease that crippled and killed many children and young adults world-wide. In addition, I'll also remember a great President who understood polio because he had it and was a better President because of his struggle to recover from it. FDR, Dr. Jonas Salk and my nurse colleagues, not bad company tonight. So keep your fingers crossed, we go live tonight.