The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, December 9, 1992 5 AD TO SOMALIA 5 Fo oy TI Wu No quick fix for the health care system By J.W. JOHNSON + The old doctor raised his finger and stabbed the air with it for : .emphasis. +. “Itwould be the worst thing ever .. to happen to medicine here.” he “it” referred to is socialized 24 icine. 5; And the doctor who is so _~adamantly opposed to it knows _. whereof he speaks. He worked as a ~ doctor in socialized medicine for more than 17 years. + The entire question of health care, its delivery and how we are ~ going to pay for it, was a chief __elementin the presidential election, ~,as it was in State elections . throughout the United States. That .rincluded Pennsylvania, where Sen. », Harris Wolfford used the issue last year to defeat the then thought to unbeatable former Governor #nard Thornburgh. Each time the health care football is tossed around, someone favs come in with the big third 17d%vn play that the United States beought to adopt the health care rosystem used by our neighbor 1 Canada. 51. My doctor frierid throws up his ‘~hands; “If that is done, then it will cost much, much more, and «patients will suffer.” (I saw some of »what he was talking about when I ~ lived on the Canadian border many “iyears ago.). 1 Andifyou think that adoption of i0oCanada's plan is so much campaign rhetoric, then please < =ow that a bill doing just that has gi e than 70 sponsors in the “+House of Representatives, and Sen. + Paul Wellstone from Minnesota has introduced a similar measure in Tithe Senate. : “+ But to be fair, let's outline how the Canadian system works: When a Canadian visits his or Dallas Twp. ‘'ok's new road of <The Dallas Township h supervisors unanimously passed an ordinance accepting Mapleseed «Drive, the road leading into “The Maples” subdivision, at their regular meeting Tuesday, ember 1 ii In other. business, the _ supervisors announced that the _.annual leaf collection is finished ‘and reminded residents that parking on all township streets between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. is prohibited, to facilitate the movement of snowplow trucks. .. The next regular meeting is < scheduled for Tuesday, December 15, at 7 p.m. “Parking on Boro ‘streets illegal “in snow storms "" In order to facilitate the » ‘movement of traffic and to combat “the hazards of snow and ice ‘residents are reminded that “parking vehicles on streets in ., Dallas Borough during snow or ice forming storms is prohibited. “snow and ice must be removed < from sidewalks and gutters within five hours after a storm, snow or "ice forming after 6 p.m. may be ' removed at any time before 10 a.m. ; of the following day. <1 All residents are reminded that “throwing snow or ice on roadways “js a violation of the PA Motor Vehicle Code. her doctor, the doctor bills the government. If the patient visits a hospital, the hospital pays for this care out of a lump sum the government gives it each year; the patient does not receive a bill. The literal bottom line here is that the government pays, in full, for all health care for every citizen. The other side of that coin finds the average Canadian paying 46 percent of his income in taxes, while the cost of health care there is growing faster than the country’s gross national product. Today the United States has the costliest health system in the world. But critics of adopting the Canadian system say that it would be enormously more expensive, while actually reducing the quality of care. Critics cite overuse of the system in Canada, from visiting emergency rooms with common colds, to roaming around from doctor to doctor seeking prescriptions for drugs. Critics also say patients suffer under the Canadian system because hospitals and doctors have no incentive to provide good service; in fact, service often is mediocre at best. Patients must often wait months for the simplest of procedures, or for access to the most basic diagnostic equipment. The average wait now for a coronary by-pass operation is one year. But what about those who argue that with the United States government already paying 41 percent of total health care costs, and heavily subsidizing private health insurance companies through tax breaks, we already have socialized medicine here? Those who make this argument point out that it's us the consumer who is really at fault here. We want the best for ourselves and our loved ones, while preserving what we regard as a right to choose the who, what and where of care, while wishing the payment for same to be someone else's responsibility. That's why it's so difficult to cut costs. Patients demand more and the system tries to oblige. Likewise, there is no incentive to cut costs here as better than 90 percent of hospital costs are either paid by goverment or third party insurers; the figure is more than 80 percent for doctor's bills. Where does that leave the 35 million persons in this country who have no health insurance at all, or the more than 20 million who face the very real danger of losing health care coverage, or those persons who have a catastrophicillness, and whom the U.S. Supreme Court now says can be removed from health insurance plans by employers? President-elect Clinton's proposal to establish a National Health Board to set ceilings on Health spending, doesn’t address the question of how it will enforce those ceilings; would the board actually try to determine how many tests or procedures are necessary for each patient? The new president has also suggested that he might require all persons to join HMO's, followed by setting limits on what such organizations could charge. This would mean, of course, that health care choices would be reduced, without a necessarily corresponding decrease in costs. The bottom line here is that, like Pogo, we have met the enemy and he is us...wanting the best and the most without being willing to pay the real cost. And with that as our illness, no amount of health care or tinkering with the system will cure it. 7 Darling Farms & Greenhouses Large Selection Of Poinsettias Fresh & Artificial Wreaths « Fresh Cut Christmas Trees Potted Trees * Door Swags * Cemetery Logs * Grave Blankets Large Quantity of Red & White Potatoes 1/2 Mile Off 309 on Hildebrant Rd. \ 200 Yards North of Dallas Elementary School 3 \ store... * Playmobil * Brio * Science room * Puppets x Madeline Doll % Lauri Puzzles * Steiff Miniatures A different kind of toy * Wooden Kitchen * Wooden Toys * Dolls * Art Supplies * Ravensburger Games * Infant Toys * And Much, Much More 00S YOY GROUND Te GorDEN G Located between Chermak's & Jetaime Nails, Rts. 6 & 11, Clarks Summit, PA 587-0283 & Puzzles | Across from Deemer's. 230 Wyoming Avenue Kingston, PA 287-0519 Krogulski honored by Boy Scout council The Northeastern Pennsylvania Council, Boy Scouts of America, recently held its annual Scouters Recognition Dinner at Convention Hall in Pittston. The dinner serves as an opportunity to thank many volunteers of the local council who bring the Scouting program to the youth of Lackawanna, Wayne, Wyoming and Luzerne Counties. The highlight of the Recognition Dinner is the presentation of the Silver Beaver Award to adults who have provided distinguished serv- ices to youth within a Scout Coun- cil. The Silver Beaver Award recog- nizes an indivdual's service through scouting as well as com- Recycled products directory now available To help consumers of the 90's buy their way through the holidays and well into the year 2000, the Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) is offering a new, easy to use, . Guide to Recycled Products for Consumers and Small Business. The 40-page booklet provides information on more than 300 products made from recycled materials, including the manufacturer's address and phone number, the amount of recycled material in the product and what munity and religious activities. This year's recipients were: John Krogulski, William Levis, Louis F. Milewski, Paul Strunk and An- drew Tierman. Jack L. Krogulski, has been a volunteer in Scouting for over 22 years. Over the years he has served as Exploring Chairman, Vice Presi- dent of Finance, Council Commis- sioner, Council SME Chairman, Chairman of the Council Golf Tournament and several other council committees. PresentlyJack is the Vice President of Admini- stration. In addition he has demonstrated himself to be a real community type, and where the product can be purchased. Since recycling was mandated in Pennsylvania, the supply of recycled material has outweighed the demand. “For recycling to succeed, there needs tobe a market for goods made with recycled materialand the size and strenghth of that market is determined by the consumer,” said Pat Imperato, PRC Executive Director. PRC's Guide inclues listings in five categories: building materials, leader. An active and participating member of several other organiza- | tions, namely the Dallas Kiwanis | Club, the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, the Masons and St. Therese’s Church. J Jack has worked for the Com- monwealth Telephone Co. for 22 years. Today he is Executive Con- sultant for Guyette Communica- | tions, General Manager of Cablina | Service Co. and owner/operator of Kay Associates. He served his country well as a | Marine in WWII and Koreaand has | been serving his community well ever since. Krogulski lives in | Trucksville. i] business and school products, clothing, household and outdoor. The publication was developed in response to calls on PRC's toll-free Environmental Shopping hotline | 1-800-GO-TO-PRC by consumers nationwide asking for information about products, Sea Copies of the booklet are now available and make a great holiday gift. To receive yours, send a $6 | check or money order to PRC, 25 | West 3rd Street, Media, PA19063 (Includes First class postage). Library news Porcelain collection depicts Biblical scenes By NANCY KOZEMCHAK The display case at the Back Mountain Memorial Library is featuring a collection of fine bisque porcelain figurines borrowed from Jean DeSocio of Dallas. These are Biblical figurines depicting the happenings from the Bible. Mrs. DeSocio noticed these figurines in a shop 10 years ago and bought one for herselfbecause she thought they were just beautiful. The first one she purchased is called Entrance to Jerusalem. She has collected others as she comes across them and adds to her collection. Ten years ago, only the large ones were sold; however, in later years, they have made some smaller ones. These are Ceramica Excelsis (Ceramics of the Highest) and are manufactured in Mexico by the company Roman. This company makes 5,000 pieces of each item and then breaks the mold. The series in the library depicts the life of Christ. The larger figures depict, ‘The way to Emmaus’; ‘The Way of the Cross’; “The Sermon on the Mount’; ‘Journey to Bethlehem’; ‘The Net of Fish’; ‘Jesus and the Women of Samaria’; and the ‘Holy Family’. The small figurines include, Walking on Water; Loaves and Fishes; Baptism of Jesus; Resurrection; Simon helping Jesus; Nicodemus; Jesus at the Temple; Jesus, Mary and Martha; Christ before Pilate; and Raising of Jarius daughter. This display makes a beautiful introduction to the coming Christmas Season; and itwill be at the library untildanuary 6. Helping with the set-up of this display was Mr. Ralph DeSocio, guardian and clerk of the collection. The Book Club membership for 1992 totaled 227 members with a total of membership dues amounting to $2,070. This money was used to purchase books for the Book Club shelf in the library. These books will be added to ithe library collection regular shelves after six months. The dues for 1993 is $10 for a single and $15 for a “The author explores conventional double membership, payable January 1. These books are reserved for Book Club members while they are on their special shelf. Anyone wishing to join the Book Club may mail their dues to the library or pay at the information | desk in the library. Book Club Christmas Party is December 21 at 1:30 in the reading room at the libray. All are welcome to attend and enjoy the festivities. New books at the library: “The | American Way of Birth” by Jessica Mitford is a fresh, provocative, and fearless book showing us how and in what circumstances Americans give birth. At the start, she knew | no more of the subject, and not less, than any mother does. Her experiences of giving birth, she observes later, shows a certain | amnesia taking over and all memory of discomforts is wiped | out and your determination never, ever to'do that again fast fades. and alternative methods of having | a child. Rita Bevan Proprietor Men's Wear Classic Clothes for Men (717) 288-8899 Daily 11-8; Sat. 10-5; Sun. 12-5 evan's United Penn Plaza Kingston, PA 18704 With a three-month membership in General's Fitness Program, you'll be giving someone you care about more than a happy, healthy start on the New Year. You'll be giving him or her a professionally-supervised program of exercise that’s specifically devised to meet their individual needs and goals. This personal Fitness Program may include the use of General's stair climbing simulators, cross country ski simulators, treadmills, upper body exercise devices and strengthening equipment. And all of it is conveniently located at The Thomas P. Saxton Medical Pavilion in Edwardsville. Give someone you love three Gift Memberships. 3 month membership regularly $175 now $140! Offer Expires December 24, 1992 oi stationary bicycles, rowing machines, months of fitness for Christmas. Call now and arrange for your Christmas gn? wk ——— Fitness Program 283-4550 Wilkes-Barre General Hospital's The Thomas P. Saxton Medical Pavilion 468 Northampton Street, Edwardsville A division of Wyoming Valley Health Care System, Inc. YOU LOVE 3MONTHS OF FITNESS FOR CHRISTMAS. (AND SAVE $35!) Healthcare redefined for the 21st Century. WILKES-BARRE GENERAL HOSPITAL Member of Voluntary Hospitals of America, Inc.a VHA.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers