A Ripe Lobbying Issue
A headline in a Bloomberg news article - “U.S. Emergency Rooms Aren’t Prepared for Children” - caught my attention and got my advocate brain in gear. I hate to criticize emergency rooms since most do their best to provide quick and competent care. But, they should have all the necessary equipment to treat ALL patients. The article highlights a new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics indicating that only 6 percent of 1,489 hospitals surveyed had the medicine and equipment needed to appropriately treat children, including child-sized masks to open airways and smaller forceps. The cost of the 118 items recommended by the Academy totaled about $1,000.
Many times actions to spark change spring from news headlines and personal stories of injustice. Attention to a need grabs peoples’ attention and mobilizes them to seek solutions. In this case, I’m hoping public outrage at this lack of preparedness will provide an easy resolution – hospitals will act to ensure they are able to address pediatric emergencies. If this happens, no government action will be needed. The power of citizen involvement and community action doesn’t always need to be focused on getting governments to do something. Urging businesses and service providers to do better can also improve our health and communities.
