15 minute read
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
FIRED NEED A JOB!
Unemployment Fever
Advertisement
“To eat, you must sweat first. If you want self-government, you must learn to govern yourself first. If you want to deserve anything, you must learn to serve others first.”
Growing up, I looked at that quote every morning, hanging on the wall above our breakfast nook. My immigrant parents came to this country with nothing but their strive and determination and they made sure I understood that hard work would contribute to a functional and successful society. From a child’s standpoint, they put it in a way I could understand: “You want those jeans? Ok, go learn 50 S.A.T. words and we will get them.” Or, “You want to sleep over at your friend’s house? Ok, do 50 math questions and I’ll drop you off.” My sister and I knew that we would have to expend intellectual labor to fulfill our social or recreational desires. This quote evolved over the years to mean more. Today, those teachings are still imprinted upon me, and I set up goals and rewards for myself and my kids all of the time.
When I lived in India from 1996-2003, I saw much social inequity and poverty. When someone on the street asked me for money, locals would advise me not to give it, stating things like - “God gave them arms and legs, a beating heart and brain, give them an opportunity to use it”. Part of that made good sense to me, but another part knew that there was so much more to it than that. Some people are born with so much privilege that they don’t recognize - education, full bellies, generational wealth, and a supportive family. PRITI GAGNEJA, MD,
PRESIDENT
I was young, but I still recognized the built-in inequity that helps some and prevents others from thriving economically and emotionally. I didn’t know exactly how to handle it.
So I asked the little boy with a cleft palate who would follow me at the market, “Do you want to help me with these bags up to the auto rickshaw?” Then I’d pay for his meal and give him 50 rupees. He liked this and liked to do work. After two years of knowing this sweet kid, my friend and I arranged a free surgery to repair his cleft palate, with the help of our surgery professor. Surprisingly, his mother declined. I questioned her, but couldn’t get an explanation. Ultimately, she let me know that her family’s income depended on her son’s disability. I was puzzled. Wouldn’t fixing his cleft palate open up more opportunities for him, make him happier and give him a better life? But I had to step back and listen to her. In her experience and perspective, her son’s disability served him better than the surgery could. I could disagree and even judge her for it, but what right did I have? I was born healthy and happy in sunny California with every comfort and privilege.
When I returned to the US, older and more aware of what life could mean in a developing nation, I was in awe of the programs that exist here to help people. Services to help single moms get food, in home support services for family caregivers, laws to protect the rights of disabled people -the list of available government assistance programs seemed endless and amazing. I remember feeling so grateful for being born in this great nation, full of opportunities and support for its citizens. Since 2004, when I began practicing medicine in the US, I’ve also seen potential misuse of these same programs. I see WIC services go to parents who aren’t really single and choose to remain unmarried. I see highly questionable disability claims, and I see some massaging the truth to receive a benefit they might not qualify for otherwise. I see young capable working individuals on government insurance get all of their medical needs met, but hard-working blue-collar workers struggling to afford regular insurance and unable to qualify for assistance of any kind. Of course, I see these same programs lift people out of dark situations, change lives favorably, and be such wonderful services. I know there will always be manipulation of the system, and we see this also with billionaires and huge corporations avoiding taxes to accumulate more wealth.
So how do we optimize these amazing programs designed to help those in real need, and avoid abuse and potentially fraudulent use on some? There are systems for screening and red tape in place, but that does not guarantee that the services always get to the right people. Wouldn’t people want freedom from disability, even if that disability is economic capability? Does a disadvantage or disability serve some people better than resolving it? I don’t have the answers. These services, as imperfect as they are, are a gift. We can only hope that people have the ethical backbones and integrity to take only what they need, even if the greedy corporate examples don’t teach us the same.
Where do ethics and integrity come into play? The home front or within the educational system? Teaching our students about societal and structural inequities and how to overcome them may serve us well. Delving deep into the various social support programs that we have at our disposal, offering educational activities that help students understand where the financial and government support for these programs come from, and well as showing our kids how to critically analyze and respectfully debate so we can improve these systems, might serve them better. Allowing discourse and discussions about how privileged so many of us are here and making room for self-reflection might make for better young citizens.
Over the last 18 months, life in the US has been turned upside down. Not only have we shared in the suffering of a worldwide pandemic and the loss of our loved ones, but we’ve
also lost jobs, incomes, childcare, and classrooms. After a devastating loss of jobs caused by the impact of the pandemic, the US appears to be bouncing back. In April 2020, the unemployment rate reached levels we haven’t seen since the Great Depression. And while today’s unemployment rate is much lower, it’s still far from pre-pandemic levels. Why?
Due to the enormous wealth and resources the US has at its disposal, as well as the current administration’s relatively well-organized vaccine rollout, nearly half of the country has been fully vaccinated. In some states, including California, businesses have full reopened, and face coverings and social distancing restrictions have been removed or drastically reduced. California has one the lowest COVID positivity rates in the nation. Yet, despite all of this positive news, many people remain unemployed. What does it say about us, as a society, when we live in one of the wealthiest nations in the world, to have so many people jobless and income-less?
This is a layered and complex issue. I’ve talked with parents whose home life has changed completely. At least one parent has needed to stay at home to help with home-schooling and do the majority of the child care. Some families have also learned to scale back and live more simply, prioritizing needs. Additionally, we are seeing that companies that treated their staff well with competitive pay and health benefits, had less job turnover. Ongoing government assistance can seem more appealing than prevailing wages for some, especially when current wages are not up to par with US inflation. Are all of these factors contributing to an “unemployment fever”?
It is up to us, the people, to build a society that we are proud of, that reflects our hearts, our consciences, and our love for our brothers and sisters. It can only help for us to live in a country where no child is hungry, no one is without adequate healthcare, and everyone can earn a livable wage. If and when we do get to a sense of normalcy with job opportunities, will we ever get to a place wherein people feel, to eat, you must sweat first? Or rather, should we re-examine our beliefs, and question why anyone in our nation should go hungry? Can we trust that we’ll strive to govern ourselves and serve others?
Will ethics and humanity prevail?
WE’RE HIRING
• Medical Director (MD), Mental & Behavioral Health • Program Director, Behavioral Health • Manager, Utilization Management • Health Plan Nurse Coordinator
Apply now! cencalhealth.org/workwithus
Why work here
• Flexible schedules, telecommuting opportunities • Competitive salaries • CALPERS pension, 457 plan, loan forgiveness, license renewal, professional development • Named Best Place to Work on the Central Coast for the last 3 years
SBVS Welcomes Dr. Daniel B. Alfson!
Daniel Bruce Alfson, MD Originally a native of North Central Texas, Dr. Daniel B. Alfson recently moved to California to join Santa Barbara Vascular Specialists after completing his comprehensive surgical education and training - General Surgery residency in Los Angeles followed by Vascular Surgery fellowship in Boston. Thanks to his diverse transcontinental training, he brings with him a breadth of experience and innovation in technology for both open surgical and minimally invasive endovascular therapy. As such, his competencies in Vascular Surgery are broad and include management of aortic aneurysms and dissections, carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease, vascular trauma, hemodialysis access, treatment of DVT, varicose veins, and chronic venous insufficiency.
Dr. Alfson is also a certified private pilot with a profound interest in aviation. He enjoys hiking and traveling the world, as well as boating and water skiing as part of his family summer lake trip. Dr. Alfson’s family is his most cherished asset, and he strives for perfection as husband to his wife and father to his newborn baby.
Dr. Alfson is looking forward to meeting and getting to know your patients. To consult Dr. Alfson, or to refer a patient, please call 805.456.8890.
Santa Barbara Vascular Specialists 1919 State St, Suite 204 | Santa Barbara, CA 93101 | O: 805.456.8890 | F: 805.456.8894 www.sbvascularspecialists.com | info@sbvascularspecialists.com
1st Capital Bank Provides SBA Financing for Physicians.
Businesses like yours require ready access to capital in order to grow and remain competitive. Our SBA team will work to understand the needs of your practice and will expedite your application to get your loan funded quickly.
Consider an SBA loan for any of the following situations:
• Partnership buy-out • Purchase a new medical practice • Refinance existing medical practice debt • Purchase new medical equipment • Purchase or refinance real estate for your medical practice
Get a no-cost, no obligation SBA loan evaluation.
Now is the time to take advantage of record low interest rates with an SBA Preferred lender! Contact SVP, Hillary Olson at 530.220.4613 or email hillary.olson@1stcapitalbank.com to discuss how an SBA loan from 1st Capital Bank will work for you.
Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender | SBA Preferred Lender Loans subject to credit approval.
Tenet Health Central Coast Health
Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center
Stronger Together
Your Partners in Neurosurgical Care
Together, with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center is providing a stronger network of neurosurgical services on the Central Coast. Combining nationally recognized expertise and advanced technology, we can help keep you close to home for specialized neurosurgical care.
Why Choose Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center?
• Integrated care with UCSF Medical Center, which ranks number two in the nation and best in California in neurology and neurosurgery by
U.S. News & World Report • Advanced technology for enhanced precision of brain and spine procedures • Advanced Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center Certification • Blue Distinction Center+ for Spine Surgery • The only designated trauma center in San Luis Obispo County
To meet our specialists, visit
TenetHealthCentralCoast.com/UCSF
COVID-19 Return-to-Work Resources for Employers
As California businesses begin to transition back the physical workplace, employers understandably have many questions about what is, and is not, allowed as we continue to grapple with the fallout of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Working with employment lawyer Oscar Rivas of Landegger Rivas Verano & Davis, the California Medical Association (CMA) prepared an FAQ and webinar to help employers understand their rights and obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Returning to the Physical Workspace: Legal parameters and considerations for employers
Members can request a copy by contacting memberservice@cmadocs.org or 800.786.4262.
This FAQ will answer questions such as: what are employer risks of knowing employee’s vaccination status, what are an employer’s legal obligations for employee safety as it relates to COVID-19 (i.e., Cal-OSHA, etc.), can employer require COVID-related safety protocols beyond what is required by federal/state/local law, and if employer requires all employees to return to work in-office, does the employer have to make exceptions or accommodations for employees that request such an accommodation to continue to work from home?
On-Demand Webinar
Return to Work Issues for California Physician Employers
www.cmadocs.org/webinars Member Price: Free Non-Member Price: $99
This webinar will answer some of the most common questions employers have about returning to work issues, including whether the employer can inquire if the employee is vaccinated; if vaccination is or can be required for returning employees; whether the employer is required to accommodate employees who want to continue telecommuting; what obligations, if any, will employers have to accommodate employees not vaccinated; and what issues should employers address once employees return to work. This webinar addresses all these issues, as well as provide information on how employers may go about addressing and documenting them.
TENET HEALTH CENTRAL COAST’S INNOVATION: A Powerful Investment in Providers, Community, and Care
It is a truism that many great things are accomplished in the face of a formidable foe, such as COVID-19.
This has been exemplified at Tenet Health Central Coast and, while much has happened because of the pandemic, some of the great innovations at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and Twin Cities Community Hospital have happened independently of the pandemic.
One obvious example is something you may have seen on the news, or billboards, and that is our relationship with UCSF for neurosurgery that includes technology allowing for real-time consults between Tenet Health Central Coast neurosurgeons and UCSF experts during surgeries. This is a tremendous benefit to our communities and means that the relatively small population of the Central Coast has access to national excellence on a community level.
Innovation is a critical part of Tenet Health Central Coast’s wide-ranging Neuro services that include: • A Neurosurgical scope that fluoresces tumor tissue during surgery, ensuring accurate tumor resection. • Being the Central Coast’s accredited Advanced
Mechanical Thrombectomy Center as part of an interventional stroke program at both Sierra Vista. • The O-Arm for sub-millimeter precision in spine surgeries that can also help reduce bleeding and risk of nerve damage.
Tenet Heath Central Coast provides advanced technology to other disciplines as well, such as the Savi-SCOUT system at Twin Cities for locating and removing breast tumors: during surgery, the SCOUT guide saves quality tissue by showing the location of the tumor to within one millimeter of accuracy. Tenet Health Central Coast is the only health care system that offers this technology.
For emergency care innovation, the California Hospital Association has recognized and highlighted Tenet Health’s unique Tele-ER service (www.calhospital.org/tenet-bringsteleer-to-the-central-coast). During the pandemic, this innovation provided a safe space for patients, physicians, and staff because people can call and speak with Emergency Room nurses and doctors to decide if they needed to go to the nearest Emergency Department. Since the height of the pandemic, it has taken on an essential triage and flow role where, in many cases, people do not need to go to ER, and it saves them money and time. In many other cases, they actually do need to go into the nearest Emergency Room and Tele-ER can save lives and
quality of life.
Another innovation Tenet Health Central Coast has brought to the Emergency Room is the “ER Advisor” app. This app can be downloaded to the patient’s phone when visiting the ER to help them be informed of the status of their visit, such as how long it might take lab results to come back. This information can also be shared with family and friends so they may have more peace of mind while a loved one is in the Emergency Department’s care. Even after the visit, the app helps coordinate continuity of care so the healing can continue. Sierra Vista has the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in San Luis Obispo County and innovation is helping parents feel connected with their newborn, even when they are physically separate. No parent ever wants to leave the hospital without their baby, and the launch of the NicView webcam system for each baby is one way to keep our families close, whether due to work constraints or the pandemic.
It’s easy to think of innovation as technology-driven, but at Tenet Health Central Coast, innovation can mean advancing quality through programs or approaches to care that help take the fear out of processes and help people feel more comfortable accessing care.
An example of this approach to care is the achievement of earning the “LGBTQ+ Health Care Equality Leader” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). The designation for both our hospitals confirms Tenet Health Central Coast provides equitable care, in an environment that is welcoming and affirming. It brings a new meaning to “Safe Space” and Tenet Health Central Coast hospitals are the only hospitals in the region with this designation.
Another example of an innovative approach is the care delivery setting. Twin Cities has the only hospital-based Wound Care Clinic in the Central Coast, which not only serves a great public need (over 2,300 visits since February 2020), it promotes continuity of care. By being hospital-based, some necessary aspects of care – such as lab tests, imaging, and diagnostics – can be performed down the hall rather than requiring separate visits to separate facilities that can create an array of challenges, including transportation and delay of treatments.
Ultimately, by combining top technology and quality with meaningful access and community programs, Tenet Health Central Coast is building an infrastructure of quality care in the right place at the right time. Embracing innovation is not only a way to ensure quality of care; it is an investment in our health care providers and, importantly, our community.
