New Heroes for High Hopes Program

Introduced this Summer! In addition to our regular summer programs, High Hopes is pleased to announce we are actively developing an eight-week summer program to serve veterans called Heroes for High Hopes. Our goal is to improve the lives of service men and women who have suffered emotionally or from physical injury while serving their country. It is our hope that through a variety of Equine Assisted Activities at High Hopes, including riding, carriage driving and stable management, they may benefit physically, gain confidence and experience the warmth of the human animal bond provided through our equine friends.

A recent Needs Assessment conducted by Donna Latella, High Hopes Instructor & Occupational Therapist, identified at least one state Veterans Home that would like to participate in the program. Please contact us if you know a veteran who may benefit from this service, would like to volunteer, or have a contact within the military20that may assist us in spreading the news of this program.

For more information or questions regarding any of these programs, please contact Jeanna Pellino, Program Director at 860-434-1974, x16 or jpellino@highhopestr.org.

Medicare to pay docs for quality care?

As reported in the New York Times today, the government is offering a bonus to doctors if they report on the quality of their patient care. They will be required to measure this quality by using standards specified by the U.S. Government.

Huh? Since when is the government the arbiter of quality care? By the “government” do they mean a room full of qualified doctors and health professionals who just happen to be senators and members of Congress? If not, how did our elected officials suddenly become qualified to judge and set the standards for quality care? Do the patients get to vote whether or not they were well cared for?

As Representative Peter Stark (CA) says, “The entire concept of pay-for-performance is offensive.”

I agree. If my doctor wants to prescribe a drug off-label because he has the experience to do so, I want him to receive the bonus for his decision to care for me as he sees fit. That’s why I go to him when I’m ill instead of my senator.