February 22, 2005

Ms. Nicholson Goes To Washington

Ever see the cinematic classic, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington? It’s well worth a watch, especially if you’re into old movies.
Starring Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur, directed by Frank Capra, the 1939 flick shows Stewart as a naive man appointed to fill a vacancy in the US Senate.

I’m a naive arthritis patient, getting ready to go to Washington to advocate. I leave on Sunday and I’m feeling rather Mr. Smith-ish.

After the visits to the state representatives, I think I’ve got a bit more of an idea of what’s in store (staffers! Smiling staffers!). But I’m still wet behind the ears when it comes to advocacy. I’m learning each time I get engaged with advocacy projects and I’m finding just how little folks really know about arthritis - Folks who make decisions on policy or work for the policy-makers.

Nationally, the Arthritis Foundation supports several advocacy priorities, which you can read about on their site: http://www.arthritis.org/advocacy/priorities/default.asp.

I’d like to think that my visits will impact the lawmakers who represent me. I’d like to think that the personal narrative is important to these decision makers. In truth, I may not meet with any legislators, with anyone who will remember anything about me past the few minutes of Q & A that might occur.

So why, like Mr. Smith, am I going to Washington?

Rheumatoid arthritis affects 1 in every 100 Americans. It is three times more common in women than in men.

RA shortens the life span by three to ten years.

Up to 85% of people with rheumatoid arthritis are unable to work by the 11th year following disease onset. Nearly 30% of these patients become disabled within the first three years after onset.

The direct medical costs of rheumatoid arthritis approach $5 billion (that's billion with a "b"!)annually, with nearly 70% of these costs attributable to hospitalizations and home nursing care.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients make more than 9 million physician visits and account for over 250,000 hospitalizations annually.

Lost productivity costs due to rheumatoid arthritis approach $20 billion annually, and rheumatoid arthritis patients lose, on average, 50% of potential earnings – think of the lost taxes, social security, etc.

So, if I don’t go to Washington to at least try to get the message out, who will? And who better than me, someone whose life is affected?

I’m planning on taking a journal and keeping a diary of my advocacy experience. Stay tuned for updates…

Posted by renee | Filed under:

Comments

Posted by: Julie Riso at March 10, 2005 2:15 PM

Posted by: Xsbicaok at July 14, 2009 5:04 AM

Posted by: Xsbicaok at July 14, 2009 5:04 AM

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