Obama’s Healthcare reform is set to transform the American health system. For detailed information on his agenda click here.

The healthcare industry will experience even more growth, so follow these links for information on nursing, medical jobs, surgical technician, respiratory technicians and ultrasound technicians.

Like a lot of Americans, Theresa Brown has strong views on Healthcare reform. However, unlike most, Theresa’s views are not fuelled by political affiliation or general opinion. She is not a politician, nor does she work for a pharmaceutical company or sit on any medical board; she is however, deeply involved in the Healthcare debate. Theresa is a Registered Nurse and so experiences the Healthcare agenda every day.

Obama’s plan to overhaul the American healthcare system has been met with enormous controversy. The proposal, drafted by the Senate, includes legislation that would expand insurance coverage to 94% of the eligible population at a 10 year cost of $829 billion. The Senate Finance Committee will vote on the legislation soon and according to Sen. Max Baucus: “this legislation, I believe is a smart investment on our federal balance sheet.”

For the general public this means that insurance bills will be dramatically reduced and worries associated with illness will be alleviated. For Theresa however, it means much more. Writing for the New York Times Theresa says: “Can we all agree that the worry provoked by any kind of serious illness should not be compounded with the concern that we cannot afford the treatment we need?” She tells the story of an older man with leukemia who was under her care.

A middle class gentleman in his 60’s, with health insurance found that he needed additional care to the 8 week chemotherapy treatment. Weeks turned into months and as the treatment became more serious, so too did his medical bills. In the rare moments he had the energy to, he was dealing with insurance companies. Eventually, when he passed away, his wife was left both a widow and in debt.

As a healthcare professional Theresa could only assist the man medically and watch as he battled both his disease and his insurance company. She has seen countless examples of insurance companies and the current system failing patients. She says: “I’m a nurse so I’m focused on need, and the treatment required to save someone’s life represents a profound need. It is also a need that is always unanticipated. My patient thought he had planned well for his health care needs. He just never thought he would wake up one day with a diagnosis of leukemia.”

Theresa challenges the opposition to this Healthcare bill to imagine themselves in her patient’s shoes. As a medical professional she knows how the country is in desperate need of reform and how Obama’s healthcare bill will help, more than it will hinder. What do you think?