What’s being done about health care reform

The Alliance for Health Reform held a hearing to discuss innovations in health care reform such as developments with nurse and patient relationships and transitional care.

Transitional care is a range of time limited services and environments designed to ensure heath care continuity and avoid preventable poor outcomes among at risk populations as they move from different levels of care, said Mary Naylor, director of NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health.

Reed Tuckson, Chief Medical Affairs for United Health Group, said it is time to maximize health care assets and expand access to comprehensive programs to underinsured and uninsured. Tuckson also stressed that it is important to consult nurses about healthcare reform because they are often ignored. The media never quotes nurses, only learned professionals, Tuckson said.

The average nurse lifts 1.8 tons on an 8 hour shift, said Audrey Nelson of the Veterans Health Association. Rick Kellerman, board chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) said to stop blaming Congress and insurance companies on healthcare problems and start looking at what the Alliance for Health Reform members can do.