HJNO Jan/Feb 2025

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  JAN / FEB 2025 15 People are always there to help and do whatever. When everybody's mission is the same, you're extraordinarily strong. And we were. So, it was one of our worst times, and I have to tell you, it was one of our best. I don't want to do it again, by the way. I'm awesomely Pollyanna about it, but living through it, you thought it was your worst. You have to marvel after. And nobody has time to worry about the little things. Every- body's so worried about the big. So, all that day-to-day ya-ya is gone. And it's, "What do you need me to do today?" One leader, one moment, one thing. OK, this is your mission. Report off. Everybody go. And they did. The other thing is we have hospitalists in our hospital, or our hospital didn't have inpatients. They were so gracious. They got in a van, and they went down to all the low- lying areas, our docks, and we parked in a church parking lot or wherever. Each day, we went somewhere different. And we told the community people. We had no phones; we used a megaphone, rode around and said, "If you need care, we're here. Our docs are here, come." So since then, our foundation has bought us a mobile bus, and we're able to go into those areas in emergency situations, or screenings, or care. It really spurned a lot of wonderful things for us. Editor I love the megaphone. Tell us a little more about that mobile bus and how it's serving the community. Peoples Well, our mobile unit does a lot of stuff. At this point, we're able to go into different settings, whether it's the school systems or for screenings, or businesses. We partner with businesses to check on their workforces. We're really proud of our mobile bus that goes all throughout the region to be able to provide care. And so now, we have a team that brings it all around. It's amazing. Editor I think we all agree that our healthcare system needs reform. What are your thoughts on reform? And if you were given the power to reset the healthcare system in the U.S., what would you do? Peoples Well, I can get you going on that! I'd be honest with you, I don't think anybody knows, because you're in the business of people; and in the business of people, there's no magic wand. Everyone's different. It's an emotional business. But what I can tell you is you'd have to look at fundamental strategies. That's where you'd start. And your first fundamental strategy is that your mission is to give care and to all who need it. Number two, can you afford it though? At what point do you say that the highest technology, and the highest amazement, and the best drugs give you exactly what you need; and do you cap that so that everybody can get it?And the consequence of capping — do you have pharmaceutical companies and others that say, "I can't make these new improved things on that kind of budget and lose money"? Everybody's got to come to the table to figure out what... Big business is great, and all of us are great, but how do you meet the needs of all? I think everybody tries. That's why they do the coupon cards or some of these other things. And health insurance companies try and bargain or negotiate lower rates. Right? It's just every- body has a different mission to keep their company viable, to keep providing care. It's just a massive challenge. Do I think socialized medicine is the answer? I don't, because it just depends who gets care in that model. I just think we're living longer. We’ve got to start sooner educating our young to be healthier as we progress. Wellness needs to be a major