What's Wrong in the East: What's Right in the West

The Huffington Post—March 24, 2010

By Helene Pavlov, M.D., FACR, Radiologist in Chief at Hospital for Special Surgery

My colleague came into work the other day very frustrated. I immediately asked him what was wrong and he began talking about the economy and the ongoing effects the economic climate is having on his community.

His community is cutting a number of social services. Challenged by the economy, officials in their town are now cutting "non-essential" services like health education programs to seniors and recreation programs for kids. Both he and his wife are bewildered that the town would consider cutting programs that promote wise health choices, especially in the wake of the overwhelming healthcare crisis that all of us must recognize.

The economic bell is still tolling -- and the sound is not a welcome one.

My colleague questioned what else can local communities do. The federal government is tightening its belt and this is trickling down to the states and then to towns and cities across the United States. He understands all of this but does not understand why they would specifically cut programs that promote health and well being. Why attack our most vulnerable citizens: our seniors and our children?
Something just doesn't seem right.

Read the full article at huffingtonpost.com.