Broken Levees, Broken Lives: Katrina's Healthcare Legacy

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"Broken Levees, Broken Lives"...the Post-Katrina Focus on Health

Three years after Hurricane Katrina, the people of New Orleans are still waiting...

Even though flooding only occurred in the basement, which was cleaned up and ready to reopen in October of 2005, the famous Charity Hospital in New Orleans remains closed in 2008 as the Louisiana State University (LSU) systems office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) squabble over plans to build a newer, prettier hospital—a project which would take years and millions of dollars to complete while Charity stands empty.

Meanwhile, the people of NOLA rely heavily on free health clinics, or wait in long lines to be seen at smaller remaining hospitals while their health deteriorates. Many Americans are unaware that Charity is the second-largest hospital in the nation, and had been serving as the primary trauma center for all of southern Louisiana. They also may be unaware, as Dr. James Moises highlights in the video, that there is a national trend to close public hospitals like Charity, marking the end of our public health safety net as we know it.

Will America be ready for the next disaster?

"We're still not prepared," says Kim Lange, a New Orleans native and nurse practitioner featured in the video. "We need a national healthcare system that has the capability of stepping in at the time of impact and providing the healthcare services needed."

Regardless of age, socioeconomic status, religion, cultural background, or race, we all must face the fears of illness, aging, and death. Guaranteed universal healthcare for everyone in America is the only compassionate solution!

*** Please make comments and share this video widely! ***

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TAKE ACTION at:
http://www.GuaranteedHealthcare.org

* Sign our online petition for HR 676

* Donate to NOLA's free health clinics

* Join the RNRN Disaster Relief Network

* Tell us your own healthcare story

TAKE ACTION at:
http://www.GuaranteedHealthcare.org

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Related News:


Fixing Charity is the faster, cheaper option, study says
But state supporting brand-new hospital
The Times-Picayune 08/21/08

http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/in-the-news/2008/august/fixing-charity-...

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New Orleans braces for hurricane Gustav on Katrina anniversary
Times Online 08/28/08

http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/in-the-news/2008/august/new-orleans-bra...

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Three Years Post-Katrina, New Orleans in Healthcare Crisis and Bracing for Gustav - Nurses release anniversary video documenting the crisis
CNA/NNOC Press Release 08/28/08

http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/press-releases/2008/august/three-years-...

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A CNA/NNOC Presentation

Colette Washington, Producer / Director

Jay Johnson, Cinematographer / Editor

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Trouble
• the
• Water
• Hurricane
• Katrina
• New
• Orleans
• Louisiana
• Broken
• Levees
• Lives
• CNA
• NNOC
• HR676
• RN
• nurses
• doctors
• hospitals
• public
• health
• LSU
• FEMA
• Single
• Payer
• Healthcare

[calnurses]

Martin Luther King, Jr. once famously said, "of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and most inhumane."

Regardless of age, socioeconomic status, religion, cultural background, or race, we all must face the fears of illness, aging, and death. Guaranteed universal healthcare for everyone in America is the only compassionate solution!

May we find forgiveness in our hearts for the ignorant, fear-based, all-out RACIST comments made below?

[MsGeek703]

OMG this is horrible. Why is Charity Hospital still idle? This is absolutely sinful.

[eastbayjay]

This is a very powerful and moving video.

[Scarecrowman27]

2nd largest hospital in the country with just the basement damaged in Katrina and it remains closed? It's just so bad, like at least try to cover up the fact that you don't give a shit. Making it this obvious is like spitting in the people's faces. This is unreal I'm ashamed to be American at times like that ... and it KILLS to say that, but it's true.

[JAZZ400CD]

WELL, I am glad I live in England, cos anyone ges free health care, even illegal immigrants. other immigrants that have resident status via a job can get free care as soon as they arrive, despite never paying a penny in taxation, once they are unemployed they claim for housing benefit, some are livng in 7 bedroom mansions (costing £3000 per week) as their local council has no homes like that available

[BAYBER3214]

Charity and University Med Center are both United Med Center of La.University was bought as an expansion of Charity. There were and are several other locations where the indigent do receive medical care. Most hospitals in the N.O. area are not for profit.Charity opened clinics in other areas before University Med Center reopened.East Jefferson Hosp[public] also took care of these patients.They never closed during Katrina,they are self sufficient in emergencies,with water and generators.

[hms08KY]

Hey--thanks for that clarification. But was it the hospital that served most indigents? Where do the uninsured go now? I'd like to check into hospitals founded by the Daughters of Charity n other countries--countries that have implemented single payer. Come to think of it, I'm waiting for our US Catholic bishops to endorse single payer. Where is St. Vincent de Paul when we need him?

Yours for health care justice.

[BAYBER3214]

"Charity" was named for the "Daughters of Charity",not because it serviced charity cases. the name had been changed to La. Medical Center It was a public hospital, you still had to pay, if you had insurance or could afford it.

[countrysamurai]

What's amazing to me is that people want the right to live where ever they want, but when things turn to hell... they expect the American taxpayers to foot the bill. People abuse their bodies for most of their lives...smoke, drink, eat like pigs, never exercise and yet someone else is responsible when their health fails?

I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE for others bad choices...I have two children that are my responsibility...not the people of New Orleans or anywhere else, who make poor decisions! Get it?

[CulturePeaceForever]

This H.R.676 Says; "To provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents,and for other purposes."!!?,but explains things for'medical organizations,doctors,chiropra­ctors,et.cetera,will smidgeons of do for patients!

[unionmaidn]

What a thoughtful, moving documentary. Thank you to CNA/NNOC.

I've marked the profane comments as spam.