Posted at: 10/21/2009 6:39 PM
By: Benita Zahn

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Health Care Reform: another perspective

I had the honor this morning to moderate a panel discussion at Sage College on health care reform. Among the participants, Byllye Avery, founder of the Black Women's Health Imperative was one of the speakers along with Prof. Terry Wiener and Sage College President, Dr. Susan Scrimshaw.

In essence, the bottom line to the discussion was simple .. education is key to reform. While it may not produce a top down reform, it can produce a bottom up reform. Better educated consumers can make better choices regarding their overall health, make better lifestyle choices and advocate for improvements in the services they receive. Those services can range from health care options to the food items sold at inner city corner stores. Have you ever tried to find fresh fruit or low fat dairy products at a corner grocer? Near to impossible is what urban health care experts will tell you.

Education can improve the odds you'll understand the type of care you need - it's called medical literacy.

Education can prevent those in positions of power who may not have your best interest at heart from running roughshod over you.

How do we get that education? Ah, that's part of the challenge. But in attendance today were students who will soon become health care providers - from nurse practioners, to registered dieticians to physical therapists. As they become better educated to the problems facing the un and under insured they can help with that education.

It's true, Rome wasn't built in a day and American's like fast answers. But this may be a case of slow and steady wins the race. Despite what Washington does or doesn't do doesn't mean we can't make changes that help us lead healthier lives.