Why I'm Running

I am running because I know the entire state would benefit from having a practicing physician, a general internist, as a member of the general assembly. It has been 12 years since there has been one. Not only in healthcare, but in all areas, I think my experience in caring for and dealing with people would be helpful. Our legislature also needs fresh faces and new perspectives.

Healthcare  Healthcare is at a crossroads. Everyone is unhappy.

Ideas for improvement  We need leadership to computerize the healthcare bureaucracy and make it more efficient. I will keep the focus of computerization on improving service to patients and physicians access to their medical information. Of course, privacy is always a concern. Clearly, having a physician in the legislature would help ensure that computers are implemented intelligently.

The health insurance and pharmaceutical companies must be removed from medical decision making. The influence of pharmaceutical industry money must be curtailed. The new Medicare Prescription Discount Card program, run by commercial interests, needs the most informed oversight.

We need to improve the working environment for medical personnel. By a head count we may have enough practitioners, but we can do better. We live next to two of the grestest centers of medical training in the world, Boston and New York City, yet those graduates avoid our state. With the quality of life Rhode Island offers, it wouldn't take much more to attract those young, cutting-edge individuals.

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