It has taken a pandemic to call attention to health care disparities that force individuals and families to rely on emergency services. This is no way to deliver health care.
By Letters to the Editor Apr 7, 2020, 1:26pm CDT
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The black community is forced to rely too much on emergency services instead of regular health care. Health disparities have been highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic. AP Photo | Charles Rex ArbogastIt’s unfortunate that it takes a pandemic to highlight the devastating health status of the black community in Chicago.
As a first responder, I have witnessed for decades the lack of access, lack of health education/prevention and lack of services for those who are most disenfranchised in the black community.
One only has to ride on an ambulance in the poorest neighborhoods of the South and West sides to see this play out. It is a common occurrence for individuals and families in these neighborhoods to call 911 in their most critical (often too late) moment. Another common example: 911 calls made simply because individuals are now sick as a result of running out of medication for a chronic illness.
All too often, there is a lack of access to primary care, and people are not provided with support and education to manage their health issues. The health system has failed these communities, so they commonly rely on a rescue from emergency services. This is no way to deliver comprehensive care. It’s very costly and inefficient. It is a disservice, and everyone pays the cost.
If you want to look further, emergency services are now answering thousands of calls per year for heroin overdoses. Narcan, the antidote for these overdoses, is handed out multiple times daily in these very same black communities. Where is Chicago’s health department to address these problems?
Relying heavily on emergency medical services is like putting a band-aid on an amputation.
I see Mr Jefferson forgets all the abuses the Afr/Amer community heaps on first responders.
ReplyDeleteLet's start with one of my personal favorites. When there are multiple people in need of assistance it is not uncommon to see adults try and push their way into an ambulance before a child who is also in need. Many times some of the "Peoples" think that the bambalances are their personal taxi cabs, and how about the feeling the community has that it is okay to call for EMS to take you to a routine doctor's visit. It's time for one of their own to step up here and say "Everything we touch turns to s--t!!
These are excellent points Tony. 🤨
DeleteIt is the absolute truth. Can we actually start saying that?
DeleteChicago Govt=Disaster
ReplyDeleteHow about the community's need to stuff their faces with junk food and become obese, hypertensive and diabetic. The refusal to learn how to cook and eat nutritious foods is endemic. I brought a large quantity of fresh vegetables to work and watched them rot on the breakroom table. I asked my coworkers of color why they didn't take the tomatos, peppers and cucumbers. The response was we don't eat stuff like that, while stuffing their mouths with french fries, chicken wings, fried catfish and pizza. The idea about food desserts is a progressive fantasy. They won't eat nutritious food even if provided for free. It's well known that the obese diabetic population with accompanying hypertension and heart disease fares poorly when infected with covid 19.
ReplyDeleteThe author, Todd Taylor, signed his letter with Jefferson Park, which is much different than Lawndale and Englewood. 😝
ReplyDeleteWhether it's a doctor or grocery store, "nobody" is setting up shop in Lawndale and Englewood until they are considered safe. 😮
Mmmmm👨🏿🍳 Hmmmm 🍗🍔🍟🍳🥓🥞🍩🍿🍦🥃🍺🍷🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗🐖
ReplyDelete