Walk that Mile

This is a petition for ALL Legislators in the Pacific Northwest. 

I am a Healthcare Professional in the States of Washington and Idaho. I am also gathering signatures to be on the ballot to work with you in my great State of Washington.

This petition is for improvement in medical and mental healthcare in the NW. Several states border eachother and medicaid is not compatible from one state to the other regardless of if only a bridge seperates the 2 states.

I have a child I have to transport 6 hours to get proper medical and mental health care for and my aunt had a severe stroke and TBI requiring therapy in both medical and mental health and is almost 3 hours from home and her friends and family.

I would like to request that ALL legislators take turns and walk a mile in both the patient and the healthcare teams shoes. By this, I don't mean one day following a healthcare provider but rather one week on the job from beginning to end of shift working at least 2 days on all 3 shifts. After you see the healthcare perspective and see what being understaffed is like with 24 call bells ringing at once, then take at least a week and become a patient in a long term facility to see it from both sides.

I know you receive several letters with families pleading for their loved ones but this is not a plea, this is a call to action.

We have several colleges and yet our graduates go to big cities to practice because small rural cities pay less and charge the same for malpractice insurance. We need to encourage more facilities, more doctors and specialists in our small rural areas with proper staffing ratios and care.

Please help me make this dream a reality.