Update: And it gets worse: KIDS!!!!
Blog #21 mentioned some of our US congressional people who have shown an interest in what has been happening in kidney dialysis - and some who have shown a very strong interest! Could this be an issue that could unite the parties? (bear with me) The old-school Dems over the years have been perceived by some as caring about quality of care and workers' rights. And have recognized we all need a little help now and then. The old-school Republicans on the other hand were at one time thought to be in favor of local control, picking themselves up by the bootstraps, and fiscal conservatism - all qualities that have been severely lacking in kidney dialysis!
How so? This writer could see many old-school Republicans in favor of things like local small clinics which would be much more manageable than the current Goliath big two scandal-ridden dialysis companies who fight any type of reform at every turn - and have the big bucks to shout down any opposition!
Old-school Republicans are also known to preach about picking-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps. (haven't always practiced what they preached) What is more 'picking yourself up' than home dialysis where self-care is emphasized? Which leads to fiscal conservatism. At home, patients don't need a clinic's building surrounding them or staff helping them out - a big cost savings!
The old-school Dems on the other hand might point out there are going to be people who are in too bad of shape to ever qualify for home dialysis and clinics are always going to be needed - and there are people who just don't want the hassle for one reason or another. Choice needs to be a factor in all this! And those in clinics deserve staff that is well-trained and not worked to death with improper staff to patient ratios!
So this is my olive branch to both sides. (please don't hit me with it)
