Hi Everyone!
OMGosh I can not believe this week has gone by so quickly and now it is February! I have been creating every day but some project need time for drying. First a huge thank you to Eva and Kristen for hosting Paint Party Friday and to all the artists who share their art.
For all of you who had questions about the health care here. Florence Oregon is the hub of health care for the mid/southern part of Oregon. There are other facilities and hospitals but Peace Health is a huge corporate hospital in 3 different states. We have a large hospital that takes care of all needs from surgery to trauma to family care. My town has a population 8,000. P. H. also takes care of people who come from the smaller surrounding towns. It has always been a monopoly here. You join P.H. or you don't practice in Florence. That somehow changed two years ago when a husband/wife MDs came to Florence and said we are here. Now.. last year in Florence 8 doctors quit 1 was fired for stating his position in the local news paper. So 9 doctors gone leaving 6,000 people without health care. There are other MDs and DOs here but they could not take any new patients. The hiring of new MDs or DOs has not happened so last month P.H. hired three PAs they were hired under the condition that P.H would pay all or part of their college tuition's. Nothing against these people, however fresh out of college and working under what physicians? Ohhh the ones that couldn't take new patients! I was assigned a PA a few weeks ago and DH just this week got a different one. On top of that the huge P.H. located in Eugene, OR lost 27 doctors. Most of them are leaving because a large corporation out of Seattle bought them out and have installed rules that don't go with caring for people. Like NOT being able to prescribe pain meds to chronic pain patients. Which brings me to our pain management facility that closed his door on Jan. 27. With a 4 day notice to patients and staff this doctor of 27 years closed his doors due to financial problems. He lost two partners a few years ago and was unable to get anyone to take their places. This left a huge financial burden on him. Ok I get it, but he had two years to figure it out and plenty of time to let people know. He left 3,000 patients out in the cold. So the closets place we can find a pain management now is in Salem, OR. about 2 1/2 hours away and that is if they accept our insurance. Oh and the doctor who closed his doors is not giving out any referrals. WTH?
Upset? just a little. Upset that the government allows big corporations, pharma, and insurance to rule doctors.
Upset that doctors won't fight back in fear of loosing their license to practice.
I hope this answers some if not all of the questions I have been receiving. OK now if you read all of that take a breath it is time for the art.
Molded leather skull with leather flowers.
I think her hand is a bit long but it is only the second hand I have drawn.
The lighting is so bad here inside and out that my photos are washed out. Can't see all the shading and details.
Looking forward to seeing all of the art this week.
Nicole/Beadwright
Honor and integrity
in art, in life.
