Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 18, 1991 TAG: 9103180235
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: E. BLACKFORD NOLAND JR., M.D.
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Too often, major health-care decisions are made by the federal government with scant input from practicing physicians. There are currently 30 million Americans with no health insurance and limited resources with which to purchase it.
Discussions will have to include ways of delivering cost-effective, quality care. We will need to interact with business and citizen groups. We will have to look closely and critically at our habits in our own practices.
In the meantime, in order to facilitate health-care access for those who otherwise might have none, academy physicians will continue on a voluntary basis to give of their time to the Bradley Free Clinic and to accept uninsured HIV-positive patients from the Roanoke City Health Department. The academy will continue to encourage its members to participate in the voluntary Medicare-assignment program for low-income elderly individuals.
The citizens of the Roanoke Valley must try to do their part by following a healthy lifestyle and giving up destructive, unhealthy habits. Fifty percent of premature illness is related to lifestyle.
This means stopping smoking, following a lower-fat diet, achieving a more desirable weight, increasing physical activity and wearing seat belts. Following prudent health guidelines could tremendously decrease the incidence of much illness, and decrease the need for frequent visits to a physician.
AUTHOR NOTE: E. Blackford Noland Jr., M.D. is president of the Roanoke Academy of Medicine. This is excerpted from his installation speech in January.
by CNB