President Obama and Personal Responsibility

I liked the President's speech this morning - encouraging the children to be responsible.

He named several young people who have become successful. They "set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same."..."Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day."

Mr. President, you should take those same thoughts to the adults.

Discuss disparities in health care with them. The Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion defines disparities as differences in the prevalence, mortality, and burden of disease and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups.

That organization has found there are five factors contributing to disparities:

• Individual - cultural, socio-economic position, biological and clinical, behaviors, and living conditions.
• Environmental - poor air quality, crime, contaminated water, and exposure to toxic chemicals.
• Social - characteristics of human society that contribute to health and health care disparities - racial segregation, social cohesion, income, and education.
• Policy - legislation
• Provider - the knowledge, attitudes, practice patterns, communication style and cultural competence of the health care provider.

Many non-profit organizations have written many papers about those who are not getting a fair share of health care. Mr. President, you told the children that the circumstances of their lives should not be used as excuses. Tell the adults that the circumstances listed above must not be used as excuses. Speak to those people as you did the children. If someone believes they are not getting appropriate care, tell them to ask questions. "Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength," you told the kids. Now tell the adults.

If someone cannot communicate with their doctor, encourage them to learn the English language better. Or encourage them to take multi-lingual person with them. Tell them to never "give up on yourself." Tell them that they can get good health care. Tell them to demand it. Demand it from their providers not from the government.

Tell them, Mr. President, that you can sign bills expanding health care or establish a health care czar, but..."at the end of the day,...none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities."