New census figures released in late August show that fewer Americans are without health insurance.  The number of uninsured dropped from 47 million (15.8 % of Americans) in 2006 to 45.7 million (15.3%) in 2007, partly due to expanded Medicaid roles and better coverage for children.  But the problem of uninsured Americans remains very real [...]

America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009
Read the full health care reform proposal submitted by Senator Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.
What’s in Baucus’ health care proposal?, CNN.com
CNN summarizes some of the key points of Senator Baucus’ health care reform proposal.
8 Questions About Health-Care Reform, Washington Post
Is There Hope For Health Reform?, Washington [...]

Dr. Atkinson was asked to respond to President Obama’s speech to a joint session of Congress on WRAL’s evening news. Watch this video to hear some of his thoughts on health care reform.
Dr. Atkinson was also interviewed by Gerrick Brenner, reporter with WTVD, about the Census Bureau’s newly released numbers on the uninsured. According to the [...]

The U.S. Congress returns to session today to resume the debate over health care reform after a busy August recess that was marked by contentious town hall debates across the country.  It will be interesting to see what sort of direction the legislative proposals take.
Over the weekend, Senator Max Baucus circulated a draft of the [...]

If health care is a basic fundamental right – and I believe it is – then we have to make it a fundamental service that’s available to everyone.  We’re fortunate in this nation to have some of the best elements of health care – exceptional and committed medical professionals, the latest technology, and  groundbreaking research [...]

Below are a few interesting articles from the health care reform debate this week.
Real Choice? It’s Off Limits in Health Bills, New York Times
Gary Locke: Fixing Health Care Is Good for Business, Wall Street Journal. Gary Locke is the U.S. secretary of Commerce. His editorial reinforces many of Dr. Atkinson’s views about employment-based insurance and the [...]

If you read the Business section of Sunday’s News & Observer, you may have seen a familiar article. An N&O business editor contacted WakeMed and requested to re-print Dr. Atkinson’s recent blog post, “Employment and Insurance: What’s the Connection?”
Check it out here.

In the last few months, I’ve been getting this question a lot. To answer it simply, WakeMed can’t afford to not be involved. Here’s a more extensive explanation.

The video is embedded from YouTube, and may not be visible from within the hospital.

This blog is meant to be an outlet for health care professionals and employees of WakeMed to discuss important issues.  We are pleased to welcome commentary from our first guest blogger, Laura Aiken, community health specialist with WakeMed and director of Advocates for Health in Action (AHA).  Learn more about AHA by visiting their Web [...]

Uwe Reinhardt’s recent commentary on CNN.com highlights the economic dangers that threaten the American middle class if efforts to reform the health care system fail. Reinhardt, a political economy professor at Princeton University, made some very interesting points about the relationship between health insurance and employment in our country.
Reinhardt warns that without health care reform [...]