Economy or healthcare?

[Guest]

I overheard a conversation a short time ago that was interesting and would like to get viewpoints - not to argue any viewpoint.

One person was talking about being instrumental in setting up the processes for establishing a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) unit in a hospital that would be used to treat patients suffering such injuries. The hospital and community has no such resource at the present time. He was saying this would create as well as to bring additional jobs to that community. The jobs would be in the form of medical personnel such as specialized doctors, nurses, clinical and counseling psychologists, medical support people, and rehabilitation personnel.

The other person was saying that was a noble thing to be doing however, it did not amount to his idea of what is needed. What would be more important would be to create jobs that would stimulate the economy such as manufacturing things in a factory. The funds to create such a specialized unit in a medical center could better be used to upgrade a local factory so people would be put to work.

Any viewpoints?

[Guest]

I overheard a conversation a short time ago that was interesting and would like to get viewpoints - not to argue any viewpoint.

One person was talking about being instrumental in setting up the processes for establishing a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) unit in a hospital that would be used to treat patients suffering such injuries. The hospital and community has no such resource at the present time. He was saying this would create as well as to bring additional jobs to that community. The jobs would be in the form of medical personnel such as specialized doctors, nurses, clinical and counseling psychologists, medical support people, and rehabilitation personnel.

The other person was saying that was a noble thing to be doing however, it did not amount to his idea of what is needed. What would be more important would be to create jobs that would stimulate the economy such as manufacturing things in a factory. The funds to create such a specialized unit in a medical center could better be used to upgrade a local factory so people would be put to work.

Any viewpoints?

To help the greatest amount of people, the creating of conditions to boost the growth of the private sector and hence the economy is the greatest task right now.

Then with a vibrant economy you can set goals and build your trauma center with community involvement and private funds in much the way The Moffitt Center was wooed and built in our very community.

There you go; problem solved.

[Guest]

I overheard a conversation a short time ago that was interesting and would like to get viewpoints - not to argue any viewpoint.

One person was talking about being instrumental in setting up the processes for establishing a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) unit in a hospital that would be used to treat patients suffering such injuries. The hospital and community has no such resource at the present time. He was saying this would create as well as to bring additional jobs to that community. The jobs would be in the form of medical personnel such as specialized doctors, nurses, clinical and counseling psychologists, medical support people, and rehabilitation personnel.

The other person was saying that was a noble thing to be doing however, it did not amount to his idea of what is needed. What would be more important would be to create jobs that would stimulate the economy such as manufacturing things in a factory. The funds to create such a specialized unit in a medical center could better be used to upgrade a local factory so people would be put to work.

Any viewpoints?

I think this is comparing apples to oranges. Treating a traumatic brain injury within a small window of time available in which to save a person is not something I would regard as a "job generator".

The reason for building it is to save lives in the very short time the person has to live on his own, without trauma care and intervention.

As an example, if a town has no police force, and people mobilize to form a police department in their town, the police force is being established to protect the public from harm, not to be a "job generator".

Plus, when a manufacturing company builds a plant in a new location, they're not doing it "to provide jobs". They're doing it to produce something they can sell and make a profit from.

They can't produce without the people they hire into the jobs. The plant is not built in order to be a job generator even though it does result in providing jobs.

And apparently, the guy thinking it's a better idea to use money on a factory providing jobs must not realize what it's like when a factory worker becomes an industrial accident victim who is severely burned, electrocuted or having massive brain, skeletal or organ system injuries......with the closest trauma center being 60 or 100 or more miles away.

Comparing the saving of life and limb to the manufacturing of widgets as job generators does not work, in my estimation. Just an opinion.

[Guest]

What it amounts to is, Do you value the needs of the many (factory) or the needs of the few (brain trauma victims)

The factory creates 3 jobs for every person they hire. Suppliers, shipping, retail in the vicinity etc.

A trauma unit while a worthwhile endeavor would create a handful of specialized positions from withing an existing workforce.

With the current economic situation I would prefer the factory

[Guest]

Buggyone: IMHO you cannot compare these two issues.

An auto manufacturer choose to build a plant in a certain city/state based on economic and staffing considerations. Ergo its purpose is the creation of wealth for itself and the community via payroll and payroll taxes property taxes, etc.

On the other hand a Tramautic Brain Injury Center main purpose is altruistic and of course with a profit motive. However the problem here realistically is that far too often such patients lack the necessary funding to support the long term medical they will need. In a number of cases such traumatic injuries head spinal cord have $millions projected in care based on their longevity Hence it falls on the State . As part of my job over the years I have visited such centers. These health professionals do wonderful work, are very dedicated and fight to recovery every dime they can to continue the treatment of their patients.

[Guest]

The same person could have a different opinion wither way, depending on whether they were a TBI patient or not...
As rubicon says-"These health professionals do wonderful work, are very dedicated and fight to recovery every dime they can to continue the treatment of their patients." It is amazing what one caring person can do for another with very little. What is the price of a life?