Making Patient Advocacy Real

[Chico David]

I just want to share with you an inspiring story of a success in the never-ending fight to get insurers to treat their customers fairly.

There's a phrase I'm hearing more and more - Death by Spreadsheet.

It means all the times when the insurance companies' bottom line takes precedence over the patient's life.

But a determined family, a great group of high school students and a real fighting nurses union have managed to win a round in the fight for patient's lives over profit. You can read the whole story here:

http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/03/hes_not_heavy_h.html

It gives you a window into the value of a union that puts patient advocay first and how we can learn to take our mission of caring beyond the bedside and to the streets if needed.

[Ludlow]

Patient advocacy exists whether there is a union or not.

True, but my experience is that with a strong union behind you like the California Nurses Association and the National Nurses Organizing Committee you have more power to make the difference.

[Iam46yearsold]

I have plenty of power as is. I have no need of a union to back me up. And I have made many a difference in my time.