The topic of health care has been on many Americans’ minds and recently in the center of our State and Federal government’s agenda.

Why does health care cost so much? Why are so many tests required prior to patient treatment or diagnosis? What can we do as future leaders in Seminole County to lower the cost of health care?

These and many other important questions were answered on January 8^th in Altamonte Springs at the Florida Hospital North facility.

Rich Morrison, Corporate Vice President of Government & Regulatory Affairs for the Adventist Health System took Class #19 down memory lane in how the origins of “health care” were set up by European countries and doctor groups. We were all quite impressed with his presentation as it extended into today’s measures of eating well with an emphasis on educational values through health, wellness and nutrition. 

Class #19 participated in wonderful and professional tours at Central Florida Regional Hospital, South Seminole Hospital and Florida Hospital Altamonte. A fabulous lunch was provided by Leadership Seminole’s Diamond Level sponsors, which were the same hospitals where Class #19 attended the tours.

My favorite part of the day was when Elyse Clark, an Exercise Physiologist from F.H.A., directed us in behind-the-desk sitting down exercises that help our arms, back, neck and hands. I must admit I enjoyed the part where we learned how to exercise with out ever having to leave our chairs!

In the afternoon, an informative presentation in a question and answer format called “The Obama Plan” featured David Pizzi, RN MPA from Blue Cross Blue Shield; Kim Streit, Vice President of Research & Information; Florida Hospital Association; and Surgeon Doctor John Robertson of Seminole County.

By the end of the day, Class #19 was given as much information as possible in a short time in order for us to make better decisions regarding health care.

The day ended with an excellent presentation on Swine Flu, “Understanding the Epidemic”, by my Classmate, Greg Danyluk, from the Seminole County Health Department.  Greg and Denise Ward (Class #14) explained the importance of the H1N1 flue shot, how H1N1 received its name, and the importance of staying home when sick along with hand cleaning stations at the work place and home actually being used by everyone.

After this Health Care Day I learned the importance of a healthy body. My body begins with me, I have to be responsible and accountable daily in what I put in my body, (nutrition) and the amount of time in a day that I devote to exercise. We all must be balanced because if we stay healthy and active with nutritional values and exercise, we can reduce our visits to the hospital when we get older though good eating habits and exercise. Through these habits and preventative life style changes, fewer visits to the doctor and hospital will help bring the cost of heath care down. But it starts with us - are we all ready to truly change?  Remember Class #19 – “It’s not that some people have willpower and some don’t. It’s that some people are ready to change and others are not.” ~ James Gordon, M.D.