The Power of The Vote: Why Your Vote Matters by Zelda Rariden

Written by Zelda Rariden

In November, Americans will head to the voting booths with the presidency, entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate on the ballot. Having talked to legislators on both sides of the aisle, it seems that when it comes to a vision for health care in America … lawmakers of both parties are as far apart as it gets. 

It can be challenging to cut through the noise of politics and get policymakers to focus on helping us manage the chronic conditions that our field continues to grapple with. Medical practices have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, staff shortages, burnout, and more. 

As the campaign season heats up, it’s important for all health care providers and administrators to speak up, ask hard questions of candidates, and evaluate their thinking on the issues that affect our field. 

There are some basic questions you should ask every candidate. 

• How would they address the ongoing health care worker shortage? 
• Do they support legislation that can reduce the administrative burden on health care providers
• Who should make key decisions in patient care: corporate insurance companies, or the medical professionals who know their patients best? 
• What steps will they take to provide financial relief from government underpayment…and to protect the providers that provide health care services to their communities?

If our entire field asks these questions and creates an echo chamber, it could get our issues on the radar screen and provide a political environment that is more sympathetic to our concerns. It's vital that we make our voices heard and candidates will listen to us as we continue our grassroot efforts to advance healthcare in America. AAOE meets with candidates on a regular basis to address these issues. We would love to hear from you as you let your voice be heard and your vote count! 

We encourage you to schedule your own visit and let us help you!

If you’d like to participate in hosting a visit to your facility, please reach out to Cameron Wheeler, Karl Stark, or Jennifer Nordquest and include the following information: 

• Your specific location (city and state) 
• Your contact information 
• 3-5 Sentences about what your facility does