[Peace-discuss] GEO in the News - Gazette

[E. Wayne Johnson]

The utility of the sonograms is clear.  Thanks for more clearly defining 
the circumstances.

Marti Wilkinson wrote:
> My understanding is the person who is responsible for sonograms at 
> McKInley is retiring and the U of I is not replacing the individual. 
> Being a sonogram technician is specialized field and the refusal to 
> hire a replacement pretty much amounts to a discontinuation of the 
> service.  So any time a student has to go to another clinic for a 
> medical service/screening the costs are out of network. 
>
> As both a endometriosis and cancer survivor I can say that sonograms 
> are a very invaluable screening tool for me and I would hate to see 
> young women denied access just because the U of I is too cheap to hire 
> a replacement.
>
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 4:18 PM, E. Wayne Johnson <ewj at pigs.ag 
> <mailto:ewj at pigs.ag>> wrote:
>
>     If they already have the sonogram machine and the staff, it seems
>     that cutting the service
>     does nothing to reduce costs.  I am supposing that there is no
>     additional costs to be incurred
>     other than the "burnout vs. rustout" of a machine.  Seems it could
>     be scheduled for an time
>     when staff is available. 
>
>     If the service is farmed out to a local clinic or hospital, that
>     does complicate it significantly,
>     but the same principles could and should be applied to reduce the
>     cost impact.
>
>     Marti Wilkinson wrote:
>>     http://www.newsgazette.com/news/local/2008/12/17/graduate_employees_organization_keep_sonogram_services
>>
>>     URBANA – Despite final exams, relentless snow and below-freezing
>>     temperatures, more than a dozen University of Illinois graduate
>>     students and employees gathered in front of the campus health
>>     center on Tuesday to call for better health care for students.
>>
>>     "Women's health should be a priority!" they shouted. Health care
>>     benefits should be improved, not whittled away, several said in
>>     response to news that because of the upcoming retirement of a
>>     technician, sonograms may not be available at the center.
>>
>>     With a family history of ovarian cancer, graduate student and
>>     employee Aimee Rickman said her doctors have told her she should
>>     have a sonogram performed twice a year to screen for ovarian
>>     cancer. Since she has been a graduate student at the UI, she has
>>     had those procedures at McKinley.
>>
>>     "I don't want to get ovarian cancer. To stay on top of it, I need
>>     these screenings," she said.
>>
>>     University spokeswoman Robin Kaler said the health center's staff
>>     is optimistic the university would be able to maintain the
>>     sonogram service after the technician's retirement.
>>
>>     "We're now negotiating with a community health partner to find a
>>     replacement to continue the service one day a week with no cost
>>     to students," she said.
>>
>>     Since a contract has not been finalized, Kaler said she could not
>>     release details such as the name of the provider or the cost of
>>     the contract.
>>
>>     The sonogram is an important tool in women's health care, said
>>     nurse practitioner Susan Miller, who has worked at McKinley for
>>     25 years. If a patient comes to McKinley complaining of pelvic
>>     pain or irregular bleeding, a sonogram can help detect fibroids,
>>     an ectopic pregnancy or endometriosis, Miller said.
>>
>>     "If they take our tools away, we can't do our jobs," she said.
>>
>>     "We know the university has budget issues," said Jim McGuire,
>>     president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal
>>     Employees Local 698, which represents nurses and technicians at
>>     McKinley Health Center. But cuts shouldn't be made in health care
>>     for students, he said.
>>
>>     The Graduate Employees' Organization, which sponsored Tuesday's
>>     rally, would like the university to hire a full-time sonogram
>>     technician.
>>
>>     "We want it to be a regular service," said graduate student and
>>     employee Michael Simeone. "That signifies the university's
>>     commitment to health care."
>>
>>     "The GEO recognizes we're in difficult economic times, but
>>     slashing basic medical services is something that cannot happen,"
>>     he added.
>>
>>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>     Find this article at:
>>     http://www.newsgazette.com/news/2008/12/17/graduate_employees_organization_keep_sonogram_services
>>
>>
>>
>>         Comments
>>
>>
>>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
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>
>

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