A
“single payer” health care system was the topic at a
community forum in Poway’s Tierra Bonita Elementary School
where 64 community residents turned out to view a DVD and hear a
panel discuss the health care reform supported by the League of
Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, Physicians
for a National Health Program, California Nurses Association, and
over four hundred community and faith based organizations. The panelists
expanded on the film from the perspective of their organizations
and expertise.
State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth and California Assemblymember
George Plescia, the state representatives for Poway, were both
in Sacramento and unable to attend the forum. Their offices were
asked to send representatives to appear on the panel, but they
declined. The League then asked for statements or handouts that
could be distributed, indicating how they thought this health
care crisis should be addressed, but nothing was received from
either office. League Health Director Sylvia Hampton said “We
regret that their voices will not be heard tonight. We encourage
you to visit their websites and contact them with your concerns
about health care.”
The four panelists for the community forum were:
Bella Montgomery of the California Nurses Association, the organization
that represents the nurses at Palomar Pomerado Health, has been
a nurse for 27 years and a nurse practitioner for 23. She has
worked in many health care settings, including private practice,
non-profit organizations, HMOs, and state funded clinics--all
in primary care. She currently works for UC San Diego in the Child
and Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital as the nurse practitioner.
She shared stories illustrating how medical practice has changed
since “insurance companies have taken over the practice
of medicine.” Universal Health Care is her passion as she
watches the inequities of care and the decrease in quality of
care.
Kathy Rallings, Co-Director of Health Care for All/CA, San Diego
Chapter, has been a union negotiator for the last 10 years. She
has seen first hand what our current health care system is doing
“to our economy, earnings, and the health of the California
workforce and retirees.” She gave examples of how a single
payer health care system will benefit not only the uninsured but
also the currently insured under the employer based system of
today.
Allen Nalbandian, MD, of Physicians for a National Health Plan,
got his undergraduate degree at USC in Biomedical Engineering,
his Medical degree from UCSF, did his residency in radiology at
UCSF and a fellowwhip in Women’s/Body Imaging at UCSD. He
is board certified in radiology. Nalbandian is a Partner, Director
of Outpatient Imaging- Valley Radiology Consultants, Volunteer
Assistant Professor of Radiology- UCSD and holds memberships in
PNHP/Radiological Society of North America. He lives in Esconddo
with his wife and two children.
Gustavo Friederichsen,
has been the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for
Palomar Pomerado Health since 2004.
He came to PPH from Sharp Healthcare in San Diego, where he served
as the Vice President of Communications, Public Relations and
International Business. He also served as Director of Corporate
Communications and Multicultural Services for Sharp from 1998
to January 2003, and Director of Strategic Communications for
Tenet Healthcare Corporation in Santa Barbara, California. He
served as Senior Policy Advisor to Supervisor Ron Roberts from
1996 to 1997, Public and Government Relations Manager for Scripps
Health in San Diego from 1991 to 1996 and Deputy Director for
Communications with the U.S. Department of Health & Human
Services in Washington, D.C. from 1990 to 1991. Friederichsen
has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from San Diego State
University. He attended the Executive Management program at the
University of Notre Dame Mendoza School of Business, in addition
to the Wharton School of Business. He resides in Carlsbad, California,
with this wife Sheila and son Adam.
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