General

Advocate extraordinaire, Sue Etters, a graduate of our “Lift Up Your Voice!” Advocacy training, wrote the following letter-to-the-editor that ran in the Post-Gazette.  Here is the letter which was printed on Wednesday, 24 August 2011:

For common good

We live in a time when we are overburdened and concerned about cost. Nothing is more costly than our broken health care system. If we are truly serious about saving money, then a good first step is to develop a health care delivery system that is patient-centered and patient-driven, not profit-driven. This system relies on informed and involved consumers engaged in discussion of treatment options and care. Patients are proactive and aid in the reduction of hospital-acquired infections and preventable medical errors.

Recent articles have reported on formation of the government super-committee, which will work to reduce costs and find savings. With Sen. Pat Toomey selected to the committee, Pennsylvanians have an added incentive to closely follow this work. Committee members must strive to compromise, be fair in cuts and seek new sources of revenue.

In terms of cost savings, reform of the health care delivery system to become more patient-centered is a good place to start. A wise second step is to avoid cuts to Medicaid. Pennsylvania has the second oldest population in the country, with one in every seven residents over the age of 65. Older adults and people with disabilities rely on Medicaid for their long-term living needs. Aging baby boomers want to age in place in the communities that we’ve built and continue to build.

I ask Sen. Toomey and the committee to consider the needs of our shared common good and have the courage to seek a balanced approach.

SUE ETTERS
Sewickley 

It’s the first day of  August. Excellent! I’m one who always likes the beginning of new months — it gives me a chance to renew, to start again, to clean the slate, to get back on the field what had been benched for a while.

Yes, the blog is back. I know….at this point we’ve been to “Return of Blog,” and “Son of Blog,” and now could reasonably do “Distant Third Cousin of Blog;” yet, we are again in the blogging business so let us begin.

This is another major sports week here in our fair city and it has nothing to do with the Pirates (may they find anew their winning ways) nor the Steelers.

I am referring to the 31st National Veterans Wheelchair Games that Pittsburgh will host this week.  Over 600 athletes will compete in 17 different sports.

For we who are long-suffering Pirates fans this has been a gift of a summer as our Buccos are winning and being featured on ESPN where the pundits promote the Pirates grit and grind and heart.  Alas, our boys in black and gold are not even close to the fight, fire, and strength that will be celebrated at this week’s Games.  Make it a point and a “must do” and attend some of the athletic events.

Most of the competition takes place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. For a schedule of events visit this link: http://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/wcg/docs/nvwg-schedule.pdf

Game on!

sj;

One of the real “kicks” in  my work is watching the team come into their own and grow as observers, advocates, and change agents.  Yesterday, at the Phone Slam, CHC team member and advocate, Linda Warman, told me about her letter-to-the-editor that was published recently. GREAT WORK! Here is that letter: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11132/1145932-110.stm

In this season of budgets, tough talk and “days of reckoning,” a great perspective on how foolish and financially irresponsible it would be to cut funding for community health centers.  Read about it here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11066/1130209-109.stm

The 2011 color calendar features photos and narratives of the widely
acclaimed and hugely successful “LIVING TOGETHER IS AN ART” photo voice project.  The photographs and accompanying narratives stir one to reflection and advocacy!  Check out the Health Committee for People With Disabilities for a sample of photographs.

COST: $12 each or Two Calendars for $20

To order your “LIVING TOGETHER IS AN ART” 2011 Calendar:
Call: (412) 456-1877 x 203