Hyperlocal healthcare defined

What it is:  primary healthcare offered within a specific defined geographic area

What it is not: it is not based on income or limited by age religous or ethnic affiliation

What it looks like:  a primary care center in a walkable geographic area.  Participants must live in a specific area to benefit from the services.  The providers who work there must also live in said geographic area.

What it provides:  primary care that arises from an emphasis on structural community solutions such as (but not limited to):  sidewalks, bike paths, community gardens, community gatherings for food and festivities – loving your neighbor.

Why walkable is important:  As a provider I know you, can visit you and you can visit me. 

What happens if someone outside walkable distance wants to use services?  They may – but they must then subsidize i.e. pay a higher price for services than a member within the walkable community.

What if I live in the walkable community and have a relative visiting who needs emergent care?:  They are assessed a fee for one time use of services – or they may visit a certain number of times.

How is walkable defined?  Not really scientifically – say, 5 miles.

How is business conducted?  Cash only – no insurance no government monies accepted. 

Why is hyperlocal the way to go?  because I know you and you know me.  Participant community is the basis of health.  Not drugs, not insurance or access to drugs or the physicians/nurse practitioners who provide them.  Simple.

January 1, 2010

I am beginning this blog out of frustration.  I am a Nurse Practitioner, clinician, faculty member in a nursing school and a PhD student in Health Services Research.  How can I make a difference?  The healthcare system is owned by The Government (I hope you know they don’t have your best interests in mind), Big Pharma (please tell me you know they are in collusion with the Government), insurance companies (dare I state the obvious) and the lobbiests of various and sundry Medical and Nursing organizations.

So, dear friends – our sickcare system gets sicker.  I want out of healthcare.  I am sick to death of it.  Discouraged, demoralized and don’t know where to begin – we are hemmed in by forces that are all too big to fail and too powerful to challenge.  We need an army of Davids for these Goliaths.

And really, since I’m stuffed from the holidays, have central heating and all my teeth – should I really give a shit?