Will Care Be There?

presented by Barbara Ross-Lee, D.O., FACOFP
April 14, 2009
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
6902 East Greenway Parkway, Scottsdale

According to Barbara Ross-Lee, D.O., FACOFP, the answer is yes. However, in order to access that care, healthcare providers and consumers need to immediately focus on finding a solution to a current national healthcare crisis that suffers in three key areas – access, quality, and cost.

Dr. Ross-Lee, a national expert in the field of healthcare policy and reform, was the keynote speaker at the Women’s Wellness program’s second community luncheon Tuesday, April 14 at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz. Following her address, Dr. Ross-Lee joined Eric Novack, M.D., Jill Rissi, Ph.D., and Jan Zieren, D.O., FACOFP, for a panel discussion to answer questions posed by the audience.

Attendees did not leave the luncheon with rote answers to our nation’s healthcare issues; instead, they left with valuable insight into how to get involved in the healthcare reform discussion, as well as what approaches will yield the most positive results. “People want to talk about themselves, but it’s about everybody,” said Dr. Ross-Lee. “We need a system for the public. And we have to do it from the high ground.

“There is no short-term solution. No silver bullet. No magic wand,” she continued. “We need to acknowledge the problem, understand the problem, relate to the problem, understand the solutions posed, and relate to those solutions. This is why [finding the answers] is so difficult.”

Dr. Ross-Lee pointed out that healthcare providers and patients are noticeably absent from the healthcare reform discussion “table,” although they have the potential to play a critical role in its solution. She said we have to look to the future and address a healthcare system for a changing demographic. We have to come to an agreement on the definition of universal healthcare, and we have to be clear about what it is we want.

The panel addressed hot-button issues that will be part of the solution, including electronic health records, having a healthcare “home,” and understanding the inevitable individual sacrifices that will be a result of good healthcare policy. Panel members encouraged attendees to become informed participants in the healthcare reform discussion, and cited several online resources to help them learn more about the crisis and possible solutions.

Women’s Wellness executive board member Christine Muldoon feels that the community luncheon format is an important way to bring together experts and community members to open up the healthcare discussion. “This is scarier than we thought,” said Muldoon about the future of healthcare. “Everybody is going to have to really guide that discussion and deal with these issues. When we organize, we really focus and ‘get it out’.

“I believe wellness has got to be better communicated. I think by gathering a group of interested people on [the ATSU] Campus, we’re going to get the word out about wellness as opposed to disease, which is a better focus for the community. Being part of a group that goes public with that is very important,” she said.

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Thank you to those who were able to join us. Below are additional resources related to health care reform that were shared during the presentation.

The following links give additional information on the current health care bills for single payer health care.

House bill:

Senate bill:

The information and links to outside sources contained on this website are provided as resources to healthcare related issues and do not necessarily reflect the view of A.T. Still University.

We look forward to our next community event and hope to see you there.
ATSU Advancement Office ~ IA-Mesa@atsu.edu ~ 480-219-6115