This morning we started the conversation with a few definitions and some ideas that could help us realize our ideas around health care. “Nesting” is the design concept we are exploring at the moment. On the surface, I love the idea of a nest. I remember finding a nest that had fallen out of a tree when I was a kid. I never realized how many bits and pieces go into the construction of a nest. The bird nest I found had been lined with a lot of cotton and soft things scrounged from who know where, but it seemed really strong in the way the branches were all bent and intertwined. I also remember witnessing my sister nest right before my nephew was born. Her house was spotless and everything was laundered and fresh in anticipation of Dakari arriving. In the Health Care Intensive, we are learning how to nest our ideas about health care in structures that support what we want to see come to life.
Many of us are here today because we are looking for strategies to infuse better care in the hospitals, clinics and practices that we have. I’m not a doctor, but I am interested in how my research in community informatics can support healing by making treatment information free and available to people, especially people least served by the current system. The current health care system of delivering medicine and advice based on whether I have insurance or not is exasperating. I haven’t had an experience of seeing care and compassion in the hospitals and clinics I’ve gone to throughout my life. I suppose I’m looking for the place where finding medical support, advice, intervention and compassion can be readily accessible.
At the conference, it seems we all want better health care to materialize in some form or fashion. And, we’re looking for ways to see care and compassion come back into the health care process. I think about how to nest these ideas – where can I see my idea incubate and come to life in an environment or structure that will help nurture it. Right now, I'm finding that the Gesundheit! Institute and the work of Patch Adams, M.D. is a good group of people to nest my commitment to community health.