Wishard Health Services
The National Coalition of 100 Black Women recently had an opportunity to listen to a presentation by Matthew R. Gutwein, President and CEO of the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, and Dr. Lisa E. Harris, CEO and Medical Director of Wishard Health Services (Wishard). They appealed to us to help them execute a plan to rebuild Wishard. During the presentation, Mr. Gutwein and Dr. Harris pointed out how Wishard’s infrastructure is crumbling on so many levels and presented a sound, cost-effective strategy that supported rebuilding the hospital in a new location vs. refurbishing buildings in their current location (to learn more about their proposal, visit WishardFacts.org).The Coalition supports moving this initiative forward. Here’s why:
1. Our current healthcare system is drastically under serving women and communities of color. By 2042, people of color are expected to comprise the majority of the U.S. population. Today, people of color make up more than 30% of the U.S. workforce, even though they are only about 26% of the U.S. population. Women of color, in particular, make up a critical force in our economy. Companies owned by women of color were the fast-growing group among all companies from 2002 to 2008. The future of our nation hinges on the health and well-being of women of color. Yet today’s broken health care system denies millions of women of color the ability to live healthy lives and renders them unable to participate fully in social, civic, and political affairs in their communities and – more importantly – in the lives of their families. More than one-third of the 45 million Americans who lack health insurance are women of color. They live in underserved and under-resourced communities, lack appropriate access to primary health care, and endure more chronic illnesses and disease that go undiagnosed or undertreated, resulting in shortened lives and avoidable deaths (Women of Color United for Health Care Reform).
2. Nearly four out of every 10 Latinas (38%) and nearly one in four Black (23%) and Asian and Pacific Islander women (24%) lack health insurance coverage. Many women of color who have coverage are under-insured, or face cultural and/or linguistic barriers to accessing quality care (Women of Color United for Health Care Reform).
3. Through the years, Wishard has been there for women and people of color. In Indianapolis, if you could not afford healthcare, Wishard took care of you. But what you may not know is Wishard provides highly-specialized healthcare services to our community and the region. It is one of only two adult Level I Trauma Centers in the state, Indiana’s busiest emergency department, the state’s only psychiatric emergency department, and the region’s only adult burn center. In addition, Wishard is the backbone of the state’s system for educating the next generation of advanced care providers at a time when there is a critical shortage of nurses and physicians. Also, it is a center for research where hundreds of clinical trials are paving the way for more effective and efficient delivery of medical care not only for patients, but for the public at large. As important, Wishard is one of the regions largest employers providing more than 4,000 jobs.
While we are all focused on healthcare reform as it unfolds in Washington, we urge you not to lose sight of healthcare issues here at home. An election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, where you will have an opportunity to vote yes on a countywide public referendum to rebuild Wishard. Visit WishardYes.org to learn more about what the Citizens for Wishard are doing; where, when and how to vote; as well as what you can do to help with this initiative.
Please turn out to vote and spread the word on this critical healthcare issue in our community.
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