An Alternative Catholic Healthcare Model

Divine Mercy Care, brainchild of Dr. John Bruchalski of Fairfax, Virginia, is the future of Catholic healthcare.  There is a greater need than ever today of quality, affordable and compassionate health care that is not regulated or priced out of existance.

Divine Mercy Care has two branches.  The first is Tepyac Family Center, an OBGYN practice that focuses on John Paul II's Theology of the Body.  They do not view fertility as a disease, but as a gift.  They do not prescribe birth control, do sterilizations or perform abortions.  Instead, they use a holistic aproach with a non-profit model which allows them to spend time with their patients.  Their focus is on health, not on making money.  In fact, Dr. Bruchalski says it is not possible to make money on some fee-for-service practices today. 

The other branch of Divine Mercy Care, DMC Pharmacy, run by Robert Sembler, operates in a shopping center in Chantilly, Virginia.  Because of its committment not to sell cigarettes, pornography or contraceptives, including the "Plan B" emergency contraceptive, they have come under fire from media outlets such as the Washington Post, and they need our support. 

If you are not near Chantilly, Virginia, you can transfer your prescriptions conveniently online and have them mailed to your door for a small fee.  Their pharmacy will match any verifyable local retail prescription price and also offers a $4.00/30 day and $10.00/90 day generic prescriptions. Their "About Us" page shows that they undersell Walmart on many prescriptions that do not yet have generic equivalents. And, yes, they take insurance.

I honestly think this is the future of Catholic healthcare.  I am currently reading a book Diagnosis Critical - The Urgent Threats Confronting Catholic Healthcare by Leonard J. Nelson, III, that outlines the current crisis confronting Catholic hospitals. 

In a comment on InsideCatholic, where the article inspiring this post came from, Decon Ed proposes that the Catholic Church "get out of the mega-hospital business...and use those funds to establish community-based, faith-based clinics."  I think that is an excellent idea.  As health care becomes more and more regulated and less and less affordable, this option to serve humanity and bring Christ to all is where the Church is needed and where Catholic healthcare headed, I think. 

If you are as inspired by this story as I am, click on the link above and transfer your prescriptions to DMC pharmacy.

An Alternative Catholic Healthcare Model

Divine Mercy Care, brainchild of Dr. John Bruchalski of Fairfax, Virginia, is the future of Catholic healthcare.  There is a greater need than ever today of quality, affordable and compassionate health care that is not regulated or priced out of existance.

Divine Mercy Care has two branches.  The first is Tepyac Family Center, an OBGYN practice that focuses on John Paul II's Theology of the Body.  They do not view fertility as a disease, but as a gift.  They do not prescribe birth control, do sterilizations or perform abortions.  Instead, they use a holistic aproach with a non-profit model which allows them to spend time with their patients.  Their focus is on health, not on making money.  In fact, Dr. Bruchalski says it is not possible to make money on some fee-for-service practices today. 

The other branch of Divine Mercy Care, DMC Pharmacy, run by Robert Sembler, operates in a shopping center in Chantilly, Virginia.  Because of its committment not to sell cigarettes, pornography or contraceptives, including the "Plan B" emergency contraceptive, they have come under fire from media outlets such as the Washington Post, and they need our support. 

If you are not near Chantilly, Virginia, you can transfer your prescriptions conveniently online and have them mailed to your door for a small fee.  Their pharmacy will match any verifyable local retail prescription price and also offers a $4.00/30 day and $10.00/90 day generic prescriptions. Their "About Us" page shows that they undersell Walmart on many prescriptions that do not yet have generic equivalents. And, yes, they take insurance.

I honestly think this is the future of Catholic healthcare.  I am currently reading a book Diagnosis Critical - The Urgent Threats Confronting Catholic Healthcare by Leonard J. Nelson, III, that outlines the current crisis confronting Catholic hospitals. 

In a comment on InsideCatholic, where the article inspiring this post came from, Decon Ed proposes that the Catholic Church "get out of the mega-hospital business...and use those funds to establish community-based, faith-based clinics."  I think that is an excellent idea.  As health care becomes more and more regulated and less and less affordable, this option to serve humanity and bring Christ to all is where the Church is needed and where Catholic healthcare headed, I think. 

If you are as inspired by this story as I am, click on the link above and transfer your prescriptions to DMC pharmacy.

Urgent Prayers Needed

I wanted to ask you to pray hard for my friend, Ed, and his family. He has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. There had been no prognosis yet, but statistically, pancreatic cancer is one of the most devastating of all cancers.

Eighty percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer, for example, are alive after five years. For those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, fewer than four percent survive for 5 years. There is no routine screening test for pancreatic cancer and the symptoms are vague.

My aunt died of pancreatic cancer as did my grandfather. Patrick Swayze, Steve Jobs and Ruth Bader Ginzberg all were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.


Please pray for my friend and for all those who have pancreatic cancer, and for their families.

Urgent Prayers Needed

I wanted to ask you to pray hard for my friend, Ed, and his family. He has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. There had been no prognosis yet, but statistically, pancreatic cancer is one of the most devastating of all cancers.

Eighty percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer, for example, are alive after five years. For those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, fewer than four percent survive for 5 years. There is no routine screening test for pancreatic cancer and the symptoms are vague.

My aunt died of pancreatic cancer as did my grandfather. Patrick Swayze, Steve Jobs and Ruth Bader Ginzberg all were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.


Please pray for my friend and for all those who have pancreatic cancer, and for their families.

Outrageous Watch--Government Health Care

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann addresses the U.S. House of Representatives about the current health care bill.   She quotes from a column by Betsy McCoy. 


Here is what some of President Obama's top advisors are saying about medical care under the federal government: 

Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, brother of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and a health-policy adviser in the Office of Management and Budget says

• (Healthcare) savings will require changing how doctors think about their patients.  Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath too seriously.     (What is the Hippocratic oath?  Do no harm!!  This is in a country where it is legal to kill an unborn child up to and including the point where his or her head is out of the mother's body! And we take the Hippocratic Oath too seriously?!?! )
  

• Communitarianism should guide decisions as to who gets care.  Medical care should be reserved for the non-disabled.
  

• Unlike allocation by sex or race, allocation by age is not invidious discrimination.  Even if the 25 year old receives priority over 65 year olds, everyone who is 65 right now was previously 25.  (So, its ok to tell 65 year olds that they can't get that operation?!)
  

Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

• recommends we slow medical innovation to control health spending. (So, America is supposed to turn its back on continuing medical innovation?!  Our quality of life is going to go down under this bill!  Our life expectancy is going to go down!!  In a few short generations, we will not be living as long or as healthily as our parents did, if this bill passes.) 
  

We've seen all this coming.  We now have advisers to the President of the United States stating that health care should be rationed away from those who are older or disabled to those who are young and can "contribute" to society.  We see this already in the mindset of companies who are ridding themselves of older workers while those workers are more proven and experienced and still need to work.  Oh, and of course, these older workers take up valuable medical resources too.  So, I guess we just refuse them jobs and refuse them health care.  Eventually they will go away. 

Outrageous Watch--Government Health Care

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann addresses the U.S. House of Representatives about the current health care bill.   She quotes from a column by Betsy McCoy. 


Here is what some of President Obama's top advisors are saying about medical care under the federal government: 

Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, brother of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and a health-policy adviser in the Office of Management and Budget says

• (Healthcare) savings will require changing how doctors think about their patients.  Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath too seriously.     (What is the Hippocratic oath?  Do no harm!!  This is in a country where it is legal to kill an unborn child up to and including the point where his or her head is out of the mother's body! And we take the Hippocratic Oath too seriously?!?! )
  

• Communitarianism should guide decisions as to who gets care.  Medical care should be reserved for the non-disabled.
  

• Unlike allocation by sex or race, allocation by age is not invidious discrimination.  Even if the 25 year old receives priority over 65 year olds, everyone who is 65 right now was previously 25.  (So, its ok to tell 65 year olds that they can't get that operation?!)
  

Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

• recommends we slow medical innovation to control health spending. (So, America is supposed to turn its back on continuing medical innovation?!  Our quality of life is going to go down under this bill!  Our life expectancy is going to go down!!  In a few short generations, we will not be living as long or as healthily as our parents did, if this bill passes.) 
  

We've seen all this coming.  We now have advisers to the President of the United States stating that health care should be rationed away from those who are older or disabled to those who are young and can "contribute" to society.  We see this already in the mindset of companies who are ridding themselves of older workers while those workers are more proven and experienced and still need to work.  Oh, and of course, these older workers take up valuable medical resources too.  So, I guess we just refuse them jobs and refuse them health care.  Eventually they will go away. 

Healing in Midlife

Today's Mass readings are about healing. Wisdom 1:13-15,2:23-24 tells us that God takes no pleasure in the extinction of the living and that death was brought into the world by the devil's envy. The first reading from Wisdom also reminds us that the world’s created things have health in them. God created the world, and it was good. Our world is something to be rejoiced in and enjoyed.

The second reading today reminds us of the importance of balance. Saint Paul tells the Corinthians, (2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15)

(it) does not mean that to give relief to others you ought to make things difficult for yourselves: it is a question of balancing what happens to be your surplus now against their present need, and one day they may have something to spare that will supply your own need.

This is surprising to some who believe that God calls us to give until our giving renders us unable to give at all. But, clearly, the Lord calls us to rejoice in the life He has given us.

God does not want us to be empty and broken, but to be whole and filled with His love. In today's Gospel, (Mark 5:21-43) Jesus heals the woman with the hemorrhage and raises the synagogue official's daughter from the dead.

Jesus calls us to new life in Him. This is especially pertinent to those of us in midlife. It is a time of life when we are being pressed on every side, and like Christ, can sometimes feel the life ebbing out of us. But God reminds us, through Saint Paul, not to give to the point where functioning becomes difficult for ourselves, but instead, to maintain a sense of balance, and turn to Him for healing, through the church, and through the world's created things that have been given to us on this earth.

Like the woman with the hemorrhage (very likely a woman in midlife) we need to reach out to Christ, even in the midst of a crowded mind and a crowded life, and trust that He will know that we, as individuals, are there and have touched Him. And like the official's daughter, He will raise us to new life.

Note: The image above is from the catacombs and is one of the oldest images of Jesus. It depicts the story from today's Gospel of the woman with the hemorrhage being cured by Christ.

Healing in Midlife

Today's Mass readings are about healing. Wisdom 1:13-15,2:23-24 tells us that God takes no pleasure in the extinction of the living and that death was brought into the world by the devil's envy. The first reading from Wisdom also reminds us that the world’s created things have health in them. God created the world, and it was good. Our world is something to be rejoiced in and enjoyed.

The second reading today reminds us of the importance of balance. Saint Paul tells the Corinthians, (2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15)

(it) does not mean that to give relief to others you ought to make things difficult for yourselves: it is a question of balancing what happens to be your surplus now against their present need, and one day they may have something to spare that will supply your own need.

This is surprising to some who believe that God calls us to give until our giving renders us unable to give at all. But, clearly, the Lord calls us to rejoice in the life He has given us.

God does not want us to be empty and broken, but to be whole and filled with His love. In today's Gospel, (Mark 5:21-43) Jesus heals the woman with the hemorrhage and raises the synagogue official's daughter from the dead.

Jesus calls us to new life in Him. This is especially pertinent to those of us in midlife. It is a time of life when we are being pressed on every side, and like Christ, can sometimes feel the life ebbing out of us. But God reminds us, through Saint Paul, not to give to the point where functioning becomes difficult for ourselves, but instead, to maintain a sense of balance, and turn to Him for healing, through the church, and through the world's created things that have been given to us on this earth.

Like the woman with the hemorrhage (very likely a woman in midlife) we need to reach out to Christ, even in the midst of a crowded mind and a crowded life, and trust that He will know that we, as individuals, are there and have touched Him. And like the official's daughter, He will raise us to new life.

Note: The image above is from the catacombs and is one of the oldest images of Jesus. It depicts the story from today's Gospel of the woman with the hemorrhage being cured by Christ.

In Praise of Tea...bags

This year the seasonal allergies have hit me hard. My eyes are constantly tearing and burning. I didn't want to go the traditional med route until I'd tried other things, so I googled and found that cold tea bags on your eyes for 10 minutes a day should help. Well this morning I tried it and it works!!!

Aaaaaahhhh!

I suggest round tea bags, by the way. They fit nicely.

In Praise of Tea...bags

This year the seasonal allergies have hit me hard. My eyes are constantly tearing and burning. I didn't want to go the traditional med route until I'd tried other things, so I googled and found that cold tea bags on your eyes for 10 minutes a day should help. Well this morning I tried it and it works!!!

Aaaaaahhhh!

I suggest round tea bags, by the way. They fit nicely.

Cover the Uninsured Week

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is co-sponsoring Cover the Uninsured Week, March 22-28. Health care parity in this country is abominable. Forty-six million Americans are currently without health care coverage and many are in danger due to the worsening economy. People must often choose between health care and food or shelter. It is time something is done.

The picture above is from St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Gettysburg, PA.

Prayer for the Uninsured (from the USCCB website)

Father of goodness and love,
hear our prayers for the uninsured members of our community
and for all who are in need.
For those who seek care but find that it is out of reach,
may they find consolation in your healing presence.
For all who are blessed with health and security,
may they work to fulfill the needs of those who are sick and insecure.

For leaders who make decisions that affect the health and well-being of others, may they strive to ensure the fundamental right to health care.
We ask this through Christ our Lord
who healed those who believed.

Amen

Cover the Uninsured Week

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is co-sponsoring Cover the Uninsured Week, March 22-28. Health care parity in this country is abominable. Forty-six million Americans are currently without health care coverage and many are in danger due to the worsening economy. People must often choose between health care and food or shelter. It is time something is done.

The picture above is from St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Gettysburg, PA.

Prayer for the Uninsured (from the USCCB website)

Father of goodness and love,
hear our prayers for the uninsured members of our community
and for all who are in need.
For those who seek care but find that it is out of reach,
may they find consolation in your healing presence.
For all who are blessed with health and security,
may they work to fulfill the needs of those who are sick and insecure.

For leaders who make decisions that affect the health and well-being of others, may they strive to ensure the fundamental right to health care.
We ask this through Christ our Lord
who healed those who believed.

Amen

Democrats Put Health Care Rationing in Stimulus Package

House Democrats have put some worrying provisions in their economic stimulus bill which, if passed, would restrict access to health care based on cost. The bill calls for $1.1 billion dollars of the stimulus package to be spent on studies comparing the cost of various drugs and treatments. The House bill also suggests that the new research should be used to "create 'guidelines' to direct doctors' treatment of difficult, high-cost medical problems."

"More expensive" medical products, the Report states, "will no longer be prescribed."

President Obama's Health Secretary, Tom Daschle, who has long been a proponent of the rationing of health care based on "cost effectiveness", has also called for a "federal health board" to rate and control health care access.

Those whose health care treatments are deemed too costly, in comparison with life expectancy, would be denied treatment.

This is a travesty of justice and is against everything that America stands for. This is horrifying on every level. Under this proposal, the government, after spending over 1 billion dollars to study which medical treatments are the cheapest, would tell you whether you or your very sick loved one will get treatment--whether they deserve treatment. The government will tell your doctor whether they will prescribe a particular treatment.

In affect, the government will tell you whether or not you or your loved ones deserve to live.

Democrats Put Health Care Rationing in Stimulus Package

House Democrats have put some worrying provisions in their economic stimulus bill which, if passed, would restrict access to health care based on cost. The bill calls for $1.1 billion dollars of the stimulus package to be spent on studies comparing the cost of various drugs and treatments. The House bill also suggests that the new research should be used to "create 'guidelines' to direct doctors' treatment of difficult, high-cost medical problems."

"More expensive" medical products, the Report states, "will no longer be prescribed."

President Obama's Health Secretary, Tom Daschle, who has long been a proponent of the rationing of health care based on "cost effectiveness", has also called for a "federal health board" to rate and control health care access.

Those whose health care treatments are deemed too costly, in comparison with life expectancy, would be denied treatment.

This is a travesty of justice and is against everything that America stands for. This is horrifying on every level. Under this proposal, the government, after spending over 1 billion dollars to study which medical treatments are the cheapest, would tell you whether you or your very sick loved one will get treatment--whether they deserve treatment. The government will tell your doctor whether they will prescribe a particular treatment.

In affect, the government will tell you whether or not you or your loved ones deserve to live.

Surgery

I'm having surgery to put pins in my wrist on Friday. I had to stop taking the pain pills because they made me feel sick.

My sister is also having surgery on Friday.

We thank you in advance for any prayers.

Our Lady of Lourdes,
patroness of the sick,
pray for us!

Surgery

I'm having surgery to put pins in my wrist on Friday. I had to stop taking the pain pills because they made me feel sick.

My sister is also having surgery on Friday.

We thank you in advance for any prayers.

Our Lady of Lourdes,
patroness of the sick,
pray for us!

Pill Inventor Warns Against the Pill

The inventor of the pill, Carl Djerassi has cited the ecological and demographic "catastrophe" that is currently taking place as the reason why he now disagrees with use of the oral contraceptive he helped to invent. He says that use of the pill dumps "tonnes of (female) hormones" into the environment that also results in a lowered male fertility rate.

Also, the drastically lowered birth rate that has resulted in the west is a demographic "horror scenario" in the form of a population imbalance and that there is now "no connection at all between sexuality and reproduction," something the Church warned against in the 1968 encyclical, Humanae Vitae.

Pill Inventor Warns Against the Pill

The inventor of the pill, Carl Djerassi has cited the ecological and demographic "catastrophe" that is currently taking place as the reason why he now disagrees with use of the oral contraceptive he helped to invent. He says that use of the pill dumps "tonnes of (female) hormones" into the environment that also results in a lowered male fertility rate.

Also, the drastically lowered birth rate that has resulted in the west is a demographic "horror scenario" in the form of a population imbalance and that there is now "no connection at all between sexuality and reproduction," something the Church warned against in the 1968 encyclical, Humanae Vitae.

Vroom, vroom!

Thank God for those electric mobility scooters!

I went to WalMart today to get groceries and wouldn't have been able to function without one! That and the fact that ds was with me, really helped me to get through.

I ran out of space to put things, though. I ended up having to put a few things on the floor behind my feet.

I know how *I'll* be shopping for at least the next 4 weeks!!

Vroom, vroom!

Thank God for those electric mobility scooters!

I went to WalMart today to get groceries and wouldn't have been able to function without one! That and the fact that ds was with me, really helped me to get through.

I ran out of space to put things, though. I ended up having to put a few things on the floor behind my feet.

I know how *I'll* be shopping for at least the next 4 weeks!!