Within the wake of the tragic homicide of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, all of us who serve in well being care should take time to pause and mirror on how we transfer ahead. As a non secular sister and chief of the Catholic Well being Affiliation of the USA, my reflection on this tragedy has known as me to assume extra deeply concerning the season of Creation and the that means of Christmas. For Christians, Creation is a time of ready, of hopeful anticipation of Jesus’ coming into our lives to dispel the darkness that usually fills our world. In that very same spirit, I imagine we’re being known as forth from the darkness of this tragedy to a renewed dedication to heal our damaged American well being care system.
Doing so would require daring change. We won’t exit the darkness by pointing fingers, shifting blame, or digging in our heels to guard the established order. As a substitute, we should unite, discover widespread floor, and develop shared ideas that can information us in our efforts to reimagine well being care on this nation.
After I entered the Sisters of Mercy simply over 40 years in the past, I dedicated my life in service to the Gospel name to be mercy and compassion for all of God’s folks. Initially I responded to that decision as an educator after which social employee working with kids in impoverished communities, till 30 years in the past, by way of the invitation of Sr. Roch Rocklage, former well being care govt and former chair of the American Hospital Affiliation, I reluctantly stepped into well being care serving on the traumatic mind harm unit of a big stage 1 trauma middle. Day after day, I encountered the challenges skilled by households and sufferers whose lives had been modified eternally. I rapidly acknowledged the systemic points that created limitations to their care. By no means had I imagined that in the future I might be able to offer nationwide voice to these systemic points that oppress folks in want of well being care, significantly those that expertise poverty and are marginalized.
Immediately, I proceed to be formed by the tales of these early “strolling sisters” who took to the streets of the poorest and most susceptible communities to take care of these in want. These sisters had been on a mission to care, and on account of their unwavering dedication and dedication, immediately, Catholic well being (by which I imply all the numerous Catholic hospitals and suppliers nationwide mixed) is the biggest supplier of not-for-profit well being care on this nation.
U.S. well being care is often dependable, typically purposeful, and infrequently miraculous. Folks immediately reside longer and get better sooner. Care as soon as reserved for the rich is now at occasions accessible to all. Nonetheless, this technique stays overly advanced and shockingly inequitable. It routinely yields outcomes that create profound struggling and maddening frustration.
Over the previous two weeks, we have now heard heartbreaking tales about how the best way we ship and pay for well being care provides to the distress of people and households. For these of us who’ve devoted our lives to well being care, these tales are exhausting to listen to, despite the fact that they’re so acquainted. We all know all too nicely the numerous the explanation why our system fails. However we additionally know that our colleagues — be they the 750,000 individuals who work in Catholic well being care or the hundreds of thousands extra who work for different suppliers — work tirelessly on daily basis to make sure entry for all and to offer compassionate look after these in want.
Within the throes of frustration and grief, we crave easy black-and-white assignments of blame. Day-after-day, I hear the “takes” of others — a few of that are thought-provoking, others of that are misguided, and lots of of that are echoes of failed makes an attempt to reform our damaged well being care system. Certainly, in my position with the Catholic Well being Affiliation, I too am tempted to make use of this window of consideration to set forth our tackle how you can reform well being care. But, I do know that doing so won’t end result within the daring change that’s so desperately wanted.
The surest manner ahead shall be to return to our founding values and ideas — and the spirit of service — that impressed us and led us from the beginning. We should return to the dedication to answer the wants of the communities we serve. We have to come again to an important first precept, “to like thy neighbor.”
This implies all gamers who comprise American well being care — payers, suppliers, pharmaceutical corporations, authorities businesses, and different sectors — should be cognizant of in search of productive options to deal with challenges within the system somewhat than simply finger pointing. How will we come collectively, somewhat than work at odds, to design a well being care system through which providers are accessible, not delayed, and claims should not denied? How do we have now a well being system through which therapies are thoughtfully prescribed? A system through which improvements transfer quickly from discovery to common entry? A system through which persons are pretty compensated for his or her work however by no means permitted to revenue by decreasing look after others? How will we rethink care holistically — non secular, psychological, and bodily well being — within the context of the communities through which we reside?
UnitedHealthcare is the title of an organization, however maybe it is usually an outline of the trail ahead. It’s time for us to really search widespread floor and dialogue — payers, suppliers, pharmaceutical corporations, medical expertise, researchers, employers, and shoppers — to reimagine well being care in the USA. As a pacesetter in Catholic well being care— a sector that features roughly 17% of all hospitals, clinics, and long-term care services in the USA immediately — I’m personally dedicated to conversations with any and all who’re ready to take a contemporary look, to think about daring change and to reimagine well being, each in what we offer and the way we offer it. CHA is ready to convene the cross-sector collaborations that we so desperately want.
It’s time for us to dispel the darkness of our well being care business by way of the sunshine of integrity and compassion.
Sister Mary Haddad is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in addition to president and chief govt officer of the Catholic Well being Affiliation of the USA.
