Safra-Knit

In the evening, I sometimes like to listen to NPR radio.  I mostly listen to the weekend programming, such as Car Talk, This American Life,  and some of the other talkshows. One thing I’ve heard lots about is Health Care and Obama’s plan.  I’ll admit, I have not read his plan, but I live in a country which has done a good job of providing socialized medicine.  It is far from perfect, but here are some examples of how we have interacted with our healthcare.

Firstly, there are four very similar "HMO" type organizations.  You can pick which one you want, and there is no difference in basic coverage.  The difference is basically which HMO has what kind of coverage in your city/neighborhood.

 Our pediatrician takes two of the four in his office, and he has two other people who share the office, so that most days there is coverage both in the morning and afternoon.  We can schedule our appointments online, and get complete information on blood tests, medications and list of all the doctors each of us has seen.  

Last Friday, my eldest was sick with probable strep throat.  I checked the computer and saw that none of the pediatricians were working that day, so we went to the Urgent Care Clinic (TEREM).  They are open evening and Fridays.  Within an hour he (hubby) was back with a prescription for anti-biotics, and a note to call them Sunday night (after Rosh Hashana ended) to get the test results.  Since the prescription didn’t come from our HMO, we could only go to one pharmacy to pay the HMO rates (if it was on HMO stationary, then we could go to any pharmacy that our HMO takes).  The pharmacy is also the nearest to the clinic.  

The holiday ended at 7:15 on Sunday night, and at 7:45 I received a phone call that the test results were positive.  I couldn’t believe they called so quickly!  The total cost for this non-HMO service was 50 shekels.  If the doctor’s office had been open, then it would have been free, and I could have received a message to my phone that the results were available on the computer.

On the whole, I’m very happy with our medical care….I’ll give other examples of how things go as I think of them. 

As far as nice events that have happened on this trip, I got to relive an experience of my youth which really was something special.  In a small town called Callicoon Center there is a band…not just any band, but a band that performs every Tuesday night for the last 75 years!  When I was little (under age 12) we used to go often.

We brought the girls, despite the fact that it was after their bed time. The weather was cool, but clear.  We brought folding chairs, and got nearly front row seats. (The baby was in her stroller…)  The music started and the girls loved it!  Two out of three got up and danced a bit, and the older folks near by enjoyed the show.

Before it began, my mother pointed out my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Heinle.  She was a good teacher, who was very strict on handwriting.  I can’t say she was so successful with me, but she didn’t let us use pen until she felt our handwriting had reached it’s best.  I think that left me a few weeks of pen toward the end of the school year.  She always said that from here on out it just gets worse.  There is no doubt that she was correct.  This year she turned 75, and she still looks great, and appears to be very active.  I thought she was old when she was my teacher, but she was only 4 years old than I am now…wow!

I really hope I’m as active and together as she is when I’m 75.