An Epiphany of Purpose

I have worked at Healthwise, in Boise, for almost 10 years.  We are a not-for-profit organization focused on creating content explaining medicine to lay people to assist them in making better healthcare decisions.  Formally, our mission is succinctly stated as:

Healthwise helps people make better health decisions.

Of course, my role at Healthwise is focused on software development.  Frankly, I have not paid a great deal of attention to our mission over the years.  I have found the technical problems interesting and the work has been compelling, but the silo of health care has never struck a chord with me.

Until now.

At this moment, I am sitting in the surgical waiting room of St. Alphonsis hospital waiting to hear that my wife is out of the recovery room.  She had surgery on a disc in her back and according to the doctor, all went well.

Thank you to the talented staff and volunteers whose work helps people like my wife and even me.

I know my wife is okay, and she will be fine.  This was a very simple procedure and is quite common.  But, you know what?  Watching her get wheeled away on a bed and sitting here in this waiting room has been nerve wracking.  Although most mature people probably know this already, I am just realizing that the process of being in the system is scary.

And although I have nothing but praise for the individuals involved in her care and treatment, I cannot tell you how furious I am with our health care system in general.  When we really needed help, we couldn’t find it.  The health insurance company was little to know help and the doctors are so over worked they have no time for you.

Eleanor laid on our couch for 3 weeks while we tried to navigate the system and get a doctor to care that she was crying in constant pain and couldn’t walk up the our stairs and sleep in our bed.  Now she may have permanent nerve damage in her legs because she wasn’t treated in time.  Here’s the rub; The only way she got treatment was by me asking a favor of a friend who is a physician.

That just isn’t right.  As a society, we can do better than this. 

I am glad to be in a position to affect change. 

Now what?