I Feel So Taxed

I wish to help those who help themselves. 

Sounds simple. But more people than you can imagine do not take a personal responsibility for their health. Maybe they weren't raised to. Maybe they weren't educated to. But enabling is not the answer. Not for them or the nation. 

My recent clinical position is at a hospital that cares primarily for medicaid and medicare patients. I wish to provide care to humans regardless of their finances. However, when heroin overdose patients come into the hospital because they had a myocardial infraction, refuse education, leave against medical advice, and return 2 days later for more government supported healthcare it "taxes" me. 

I know not everyone was blessed to have the wonderful and fortunate upbringing I did. But allowing people benefits when they are non-compliant with the free healthcare they receive isn't wonderful or fortunate for me. 

Really not fortunate-I got my first (overtime) paycheck today from this hospital (woot woot) and an hour later got my Department of Education Federal Loan interest bill. They were almost equivilant. Turns out the taxes I owe this year are also equivalent. That leaves me at...ohhh, I'd say, a negative one paycheck. 
And with a negative, defeated attitude. 

Although the nation "understands" there is a national obesity epidemic, dietitians are sill not reimbursed for most all of their services, making our salaries meager compared to all other allied health professions. So here, the government doesn't value my my profession (education) and in turn, taxes me while treating patients that don't seem to care about their health. I'm happy the government cares. Or should I say.."I" do? 


It's not to say I wish that things couldn't be better for everyone. It's not to say that I try any less to help-Except when I deem cardiac diet education unnecessary for young patients who have healthy BMIs with positive tox reports (cocaine). Especially when their past medical history includes stab wound, aggression, and getting kicked out of a nursing home at age 48 for deviant behaviors with a visiting girlfriend. (Seriously a patient of mine today).

But apparently my unnecessary education required a necessary chart note for government auditing purposes. And a little of my tax dollars.
But my schooling did educate me on how to improve and maintain my personal health. And that's worth millions! The job may not be worth millions, at least right now, but I suppose the stories are worth a decent amount. And the job is educating me on the government healthcare system-or at least my thoughts on it.