Letter to Editor | Imagine the Difference We Can Make

— from Alison Shaw —

Back in 2008, Orcas had many residents who were uninsured or under-insured. Folks without a means to pay for medical visits often waited far too long to see a doctor. In response to this need, one very generous donor established a significant fund through the Orcas Medical Foundation to help. As OMC Clinic Manager, I had the privilege to administer this assistance program, through which patients could receive medical care for a flat fee of $5 per visit. What follows is a true story (patient identity not disclosed).

Early in the program, we enrolled a patient who asked to be seen due to some scary symptoms. The patient had heard about the program and quickly got an appointment with one of the doctors. After evaluation in the clinic, the patient was sent for immediate admission to the hospital where they confirmed a diagnosis of a rare disorder that can attack the nervous system and result in paralysis and even death. However, because of early diagnosis and treatment, the patient eventually recovered and is doing well today.

I was struck by this story, and grateful the assistance program had helped make an early diagnosis. The next time I saw the program donor, I pulled him aside and told him how much it had meant for the patient’s recovery. When I mentioned the name of the disease, he looked thunderstruck for a moment. Then he said, quietly, “my sister died of that disease.” A meaningful moment suddenly became more meaningful than I could have ever imagined.

Such are the many stories that occur in clinics and hospitals. For this reason, I’m passionate about health care and fully support the creation of a Public Hospital (Health Care Services) District on Orcas. When we fund medical care to provide full services to our community, we never know who will be helped – or even whose life may be saved. Perhaps it will be a stranger, or perhaps a loved-one. Perhaps it will be more meaningful than we could have ever imagined.