Transcript of "Ron Whitlock Reports" for July 12, 2009 from ronwhitlock.com Copyright © 2009 The Shepherd Group. * * * * >>Ron: HELLO. WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM. SOME CLAIM THAT THE LONE STAR STATE OF TEXAS IS TARNISHED. THEY CLAIM THAT THE STAR, WHICH REPRESENTS AND IS THE IMAGE OF TEXAS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, DOES NOT SHINE BRIGHT, IF YOU BELIEVE THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THESE IN THE LONE STAR STATE. ALSO, POLITICAL LEADERS SAY THE SAME, EDUCATORS AND OTHERS, THEY SAY THAT THE STAR OF TEXAS IS TARNISHED. THEY ALSO CLAIM THAT TEXAS HAS THE RECORD OF HAVING THE MOST UNINSURED CHILDREN OF ANY STATE IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING TO BE ASHAMED OF. THEY SAY THAT A SOCIETY THAT PROVIDES LESS HEALTHCARE FOR ITS CHILDREN THAN ANY OTHER STATE OF THE UNION, IS, IN AND OF ITSELF, A SICK SOCIETY. ADVOCATES FOR THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM IN TEXAS SAY THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE LONE STAR STATE. HOW DO SOME OF THE CONGRESSMEN FROM THE REGION, FROM LAREDO TO CORPUS CHRISTI, SOUTH TO BROWNSVILLE, STACK UP? WELL, WE WENT TO THE NATION'S CAPITOL, TALKING TO THE CO-FATHER OF CHIP, HENRY CUELLAR OF LAREDO, WHO REPRESENTS LAREDO TO McALLEN, NORTH TO SAN ANTONIO. HERE'S WHAT HE TOLD US ABOUT EXPANDING CHIP AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT. >>Henry Cuellar: AS YOU KNOW, CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE, WE DID GO FROM SIX MILLION TO 10 MILLION KIDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >>Ron: BUT, IT DID FAIL IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND TEXAS GOVERNOR PERRY SAYS HE'S NOT GONNA PUT IT ON THE CALL. YOUR REACTION? >>Henry: MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS ON THIS IS THAT, AS YOU KNOW, CHIP IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. I STARTED THE FIRST PILOT PROGRAM, THE CHIP PROGRAM, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AT THE FARIAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. IT'S ONE THAT WORKS. I WOULD HOPE THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD PUT THIS IN A SPECIAL SESSION. OTHERWISE, WE'RE GONNA LEAVE THOUSANDS OF KIDS THAT ARE NOT COVERED. IT IS A RIGHT THING TO DO, IS TO INCLUDE THE CHILDREN, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE UP TO 1.3, 1.4 MILLION KIDS THAT ARE NOT COVERED RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. YOU KNOW, BY INCLUDING ANOTHER 70,000, OR WHATEVER WE CAN COVER, UNDER THE STATE LEGISLATION, AND I'M NOT AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE ANYMORE, BUT MY PERSONAL FEELING IS I HOPE THAT HE DOES INCLUDE CHIP. >>Ron: WE ALSO DROPPED BY THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN SOLOMON ORTIZ, WHO REPRESENTS CORPUS CHRISTI, WHERE HE RESIDES, DOWN TO BROWNSVILLE ALONG THE BORDER. HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE NEED TO EXPAND CHIP, AND HIM ENCOURAGING TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY TO ADD IT TO A SPECIAL SESSION CALL. >> YOUR SON AND OTHERS IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE HAVE SOUGHT TO EXPAND CHIP COVERAGE FROM THE 200 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINE TO 300 PERCENT, WORKING FAMILIES WHO CAN BUY IN AND BUY THE COVERAGE, BASICALLY. THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS HAS THUS FAR REFUSED TO PUT IT ON THE CALL. WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE HIM TO DO SO, AND, IF SO, WHY? >>Solomon Ortiz: THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT WE HAVE ALOT OF PEOPLE WHO BARELY MAKE A WAGE EVERY YEAR. I MEAN, AVERAGE WAGE 12-13 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR. YOU TRY TO BUY INSURANCE, EVEN FOR A SINGLE PERSON, IT'S OVER 600 DOLLARS A MONTH. NOT ONLY DO I ENCOURAGE THE GOVERNOR TO DO THAT, AND LOOK INTO IT, AND PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE ALOT OF POVERTY SOUTH OF SAN ANTONIO, WE HAVE ALOT OF PEOPLE WHO CANNOT HELP THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF A LACK OF JOBS, AND EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST, THEY CAN'T, WE NEED TO HELP ALL THOSE PEOPLE. I DO ENCOURAGE THE GOVERNOR TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. >>Ron: VERY IMPORTANT FOR DRISCOLL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, WHO'S HEADQUARTERS IN YOUR DISTRICT IN CORPUS HAVE SATELLITES IN HARLINGEN AND BROWNSVILLE. >>Solomon: MM HM. THEY DO A MAGNIFICENT JOB, AND YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE COME, EVEN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, THAT CANNOT AFFORD THEMSELVES TO HELP THEIR KIDS. AND, EVEN FROM THE BARRIO FROM MY AREA, DRISCOLL FOUNDATION HAVE ALWAYS DONE A GREAT JOB AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM AND ENCOURAGE LOCALS TO ALSO CONTRIBUTE AND GIVE DONATIONS TO THE HOSPITAL. >>Ron: WITH ALL THIS IN MIND, I TAKE YOU NOW TO MY INTERVIEW WITH ASIM ZAMIR, PEDIATRICIAN FOR 19 YEARS ALONG THE BORDER REGION, BROWNSVILLE TO LAREDO TO CORPUS CHRISTI. >> WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT YOUR PRACTICE HERE ALONG THE BORDER DURING THAT TIME WHEN THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM ENROLLMENT WENT FROM 12 MONTHS TO SIX, BEFORE IT WENT BACK TO 12 MONTHS? WHAT WAS HAPPENING ECONOMICALLY AT YOUR BROWNSVILLE CHILDREN'S CLINIC? >>Asim Zamir: WELL, AS YOU KNOW, THIS BORDER AREA IS A VERY MEDICALLY UNDER-SERVED AREA, AND THE POVERTY'S IN ITS HIGHEST IN THE UNITED STATES. AND, THOSE PATIENTS THAT LOST THEIR COVERAGE, THEY WERE THE PATIENTS OF BROWNSVILLE CHILDREN'S CLINIC, SO THEY CANNOT BE DENIED THEIR SERVICES. THEY WERE COMING TO US. THEY WERE.. >>Ron: COULD HAVE BEEN DENIED THEIR SERVICE.. >>Asim: COULD HAVE.. >>Ron: SOME CLINICS DO DENY THE SERVICE, BUT YOU AND YOUR SIX OTHER PHYSICIANS TOOK THE POSITION YOU WERE NOT GOING TO DENY THEM THAT SERVICE. >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY. >>Ron: IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME? >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY, WE KEEP SEEING THEM, AND WITHOUT HAVING ANY INCOME FROM THOSE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDED. AND, IT IMPACTED THE INCOME OF THE OFFICE AND THESE STAFF, AND THE DOCTORS THAT WE HAVE ONBOARD. >>Ron: SO, HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOUR PRACTICE, BROWNSVILLE CHILDREN'S CLINIC, LOSE DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME WHEN ELIGIBILITY SHRUNK TO THE POINT THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN IN TEXAS FELL OFF THE CHIP ROLLS? >>Asim: IT COULD BE IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS. >>Ron: MAYBE CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS? >>Asim: COULD BE. >>Ron: THAT'S ALOT OF MONEY. >>Asim: YES SIR. >>Ron: BUT, YOU, AS A PHYSICIAN WHO TOOK THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH, MADE THE DETERMINATION YOU WERE NOT GOING TO LOOK AT YOUR PATIENTS AS A MONEY MACHINE, BUT YOU WERE GOING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH HEALTHCARE. >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID. AND, WHEN THOSE PATIENTS LOST THEIR COVERAGE, THEY WERE STILL MY PATIENTS, THEY WERE STILL COMING TO THE CLINIC, AND WE WERE PROVIDING THEM THE SERVICE. AS YOU SAID, WE TOOK THE OATH TO SERVE THEM. >>Ron: SO, YOU WERE TAKING THE HIT AT YOUR CLINIC, KNOWING AND REALIZING THAT IT WOULD HAVE A MUCH MORE NEGATIVE IMPACT, BECAUSE IT COSTS SO MUCH HIGHER AT THE EMERGENCY ROOMS IN YOUR LOCAL HOSPITALS, AND WHERE YOU ALSO PRACTICE.. >>Asim: YEAH. >>Ron: ..AND YOU DETERMINED YOU WERE GONNA TAKE THE HIT OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS RATHER THAN PASSING IT ON TO YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY ROOM, AND, THEREFORE, IN MANY CASES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. >>Ron: EXPLAIN THAT JUDGMENT TO THOSE WATCHING WHO ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT DOCS NOT BEING CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR PATIENTS TO THE DEGREE THAT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN 20-30 YEARS AGO, AND ARE REALLY LOOKING MORE AT THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THEIR PRACTICE. >>Asim: WELL, YOU KNOW, WE PLAY A ROLE AS ADVOCATE TO THE PATIENT. AND, LIKE YOU SAID, WE TAKE AN OATH AND WE'RE HERE TO SERVE THEM. AND, PLUS, WE'RE ALSO A CUSHION TO THE FEDERAL AIDS, AND THE MEDICAID AND CHIPs PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE SAVE THE MONEY, AVOID THOSE PATIENTS TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND GET HIGHER EXPENSES THERE. AND, TO AVOID THAT, WE DO THAT SERVICE IN THE OFFICE, DESPITE THAT WE WILL NOT BE PAID BY THE CHIPs PROGRAM, BUT WE WILL SAVE ALOT OF DOLLARS FOR THOSE PATIENTS GOING TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND GETTING THE TREATMENT AND GETTING ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER THE COMPLICATIONS. >>Ron: EXPLAIN HOW AN UNTREATED ILLNESS THAT YOU MAY HAVE PROVIDED DURING THIS INTERIM PERIOD, WHEN THESE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE FELL OFF THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM, WHAT KIND OF COMPLICATIONS COULD HAVE ENSUED DURING THAT PERIOD THAT WOULD HAVE ENDED UP SENDING THEM TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND POSSIBLY COSTING THEIR LIVES? >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY. >>Ron: GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE. >>Asim: I'LL GIVE YOU.. >>Ron: GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE. >>Asim: I'LL GIVE YOU A PERFECT EXAMPLE. THE RECENT INCIDENCE OF SWINE FLU. IF THAT CHILD WAS NOT COVERED BY CHIPs AND DID NOT GET THE TREATMENT OF INFLUENZA A. THAT WE SAW THE EPIDEMIA IN THE LAST MONTHS, THOSE PATIENTS, IF NOT TREATED EARLIER, BECOME COMPLICATED, GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, GET PNEUMONIA, GET RESPIRATORY DISTRESS, END UP IN ADMITTING TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN I.C.U. AND, THOSE COSTS IS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR ONE PATIENT, IF THAT COMPLICATION HAPPENED WITH ONE PATIENT. SO, IF WE CAN TREAT THAT ILLNESS EARLY AND DETECT THEM, AND CORRECT THEM, THEN THOSE PATIENTS WILL NOT GO THROUGH THAT COMPLICATION, AND AVOID THOSE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WHICH ARE SPENT IN THE HOSPITAL. >>Ron: SO, IT'S A MATTER OF ACCESS TO CARE. AND, IF A FAMILY IS SOMEWHAT ON THE CUSP, THEY HAVE A WORKING MOTHER, A WORKING FATHER, BOTH WORKING, BUT LOW-INCOME JOBS, THEY DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, SO THEY ARE VERY FEARFUL OF SENDING THEIR CHILD TO YOUR CLINIC FOR FEAR OF THE FACT THAT THEY'RE EMBARRASSED THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T PAY YOU, SO THEY DON'T DO THAT. AND, THAT, INTO ITSELF, COULD END UP WITH A CHILD ENDING UP WITH SOME COMPLICATION THAT WOULD END UP GOING TO THE E.R. AND COSTING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. IS THAT WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY? >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHAT I SAY. AND, I'LL ADD TO THAT, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FAMILIES HERE HAVE, AVERAGE CHILDRENS IN THE FAMILY IS FOUR, HAVE MAYBE THREE, TO FIVE, AND SIX IN ONE FAMILY. IMAGINE THE LOAD ON THOSE PARENTS, WHO ARE INCOMING, THEY'RE PAYING THEIR TAXES, BUT THEY'RE NOT EARNING ENOUGH TO BUY THE INSURANCE FOR THOSE KIDS. AND, THOSE KIDS ARE THE ONE THEY ARE EMBARRASSED TO GO TO THE DOCTOR THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PAY. AND, THEY WAIT AT HOME AND PRAY TO THEIR GOD THAT THE CHILD GETS BETTER, AND THEN END UP IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM IF, GOD FORBID, COMPLICATION HAPPENS. >>Ron: STAY WITH US WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>Ron: WELCOME BACK TO OUR CONVERSATION. DOCTOR ASIM ZAMIR, PEDIATRICIAN. HE AND SIX DOCTORS JOIN TOGETHER AT BROWNSVILLE CHILDREN'S CLINIC ON THE BORDER OF SOUTH TEXAS. BUT, HE HAS AN INVOLVEMENT AS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DRISCOLL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL-CORPUS CHRISTI, LAREDO, AND BROWNSVILLE, AND ALSO INVOLVED WITH U.T.S.A. IN SAN ANTONIO AS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, AND TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. ALL THREE OF THESE HOSPITALS USING YOU TO HELP TRAIN THEIR RESIDENTS AND STUDENTS WANTING TO GET INVOLVED AND DO WHAT YOU DO. WHY DO YOU DO THAT ALONG WITH HAVING SUCH A BIG PRACTICE WITH SIX OTHER PHYSICIANS AT BROWNSVILLE CHILDREN'S CLINIC? >>Asim Zamir: THIS BORDER AREAS ARE MEDICALLY UNDER-SERVED, SO WE NEED MORE DOCTORS, AND QUALIFIED DOCTORS, TO COME DOWN AND PRACTICE HERE. YOU KNOW, WHEN.. >>Ron: AT THE BORDER. >>Asim: ..AT THE BORDER. WHEN OUR MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO AND DALLAS, WHEN THESE DOCTORS GRADUATE, THEY WANT TO BE IN THE CITY. THEY WANT TO ENJOY THE LUXURY OF THE BIG CITIES, AND TO STAY THERE WITH THEIR FAMILIES. BUT, SO WE HAVE A HARD TIME RECRUITING PHYSICIANS THERE. WITH THE STARTING OF THE PERIODONTAL REGIONAL ACADEMIC HEALTH SCIENCE CENTERS, THE STUDENTS ARE COMING DOWN HERE, TRAINING THERE. THEY ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, LEARNING ABOUT THE BORDER DISEASES THAT WE SEE FROM THE MIGRATION, AND THEY GET INTERESTED. SOME OF THEM WILL DECIDE TO COME AND STAY AND JOIN ME OR OTHER PRACTICES IN THE AREA TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY, WHICH HAS BEEN UNDER-SERVED FOR YEARS AND YEARS. >>Ron: SO, YOU SOMEWHAT ARE NOT ONLY TRAINING THEM TO BE A PEDIATRICIAN, A PHYSICIAN/DOCTOR, BUT, IN MANY CASES, YOU'RE KIND OF BEING A RECRUITER FOR THE BORDER REGION. >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY. >>Ron: IT IS SO MEDICALLY UNDER-SERVED, HISTORICALLY, AND THAT PARTICULAR EQUATION IS NOT HELPING, IS NOT ADVANCING AND IMPROVING MUCH AT THIS POINT, IS IT? >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY. YOU'RE VERY RIGHT. AND, THE POINT I'LL MAKE IT TO THAT IS, YOU KNOW, IN BROWNSVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE HAVE 50,000 KIDS IN BROWNSVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO, IMAGINE YOU CAN NEED, HOW MANY PEDIATRICIANS WHICH YOU'RE GONNA NEED JUST IN BROWNSVILLE, AND INCLUDING McALLEN, AND HARLINGEN, WESLACO, ALL THE WAY BORDER TO THE LAREDO. SO, NEED FOR THE PHYSICIAN IS TREMENDOUS, AND WE'RE WORKING HARD DAY AND NIGHT TO WORK OURSELF OUT, AND THEN WE TRY TO RECRUIT THE DOCTOR THAT WE TRAIN TO COME AND JOIN US AND TO STAY IN THE COMMUNITY, DON'T LEAVE. >>Ron: WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THE LACK OF SUCCESS IN TRYING TO GET FROM THE UNDER-SERVED AREA TO ADEQUATELY-SERVED AREA? IS IT BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING SO MANY CHILDREN AT THE BORDER REGION? >>Asim: WELL, THE CULTURAL VALUES COMES INTO THE PLAY, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE.. >>Ron: LA FAMILIA. >>Asim: ..FAMILIA. AND, BUT, YOU KNOW, TO YOUR, IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, TO HAVE THE PHYSICIAN RECRUIT HIS HEART, TO RECRUIT A PHYSICIAN HERE IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE FINANCIAL BENEFITS, THEY GET BETTER BENEFITS IN BIGGER CITIES, AND WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A LUXURY LIFE AS WELL, ENJOY THEIR GOLF, ENJOY THEIR EVENINGS. AND, HERE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE LUXURIES, SO THOSE DOCTORS WANTS TO STAY IN THE BIGGER CITY WHERE THEY HAVE FINANCIAL BENEFIT AS WELL AS A LUXURY OF LIFE. >>Ron: SO, THE PEDIATRICIANS YOU'RE ABLE TO RECRUIT FROM THE URBANIZED AREAS OF TEXAS SEEM TO BE THOSE WHO LIKE TO HUNT AND FISH, THEY LIKE THE PROXIMITY TO MEXICO, THEY LIKE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THEY LIKE THE CLOSENESS TO SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, SO FORTH? IS THAT.. >>Asim: AND, IN.. >>Ron: ..A CORRECT ASSUMPTION ON MY PART? >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY, AND IN LOVE WITH THEIR PROFESSION, TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. >>Ron: BECAUSE THE NEED IS GREATER. >>Asim: BECAUSE THE NEED IS VERY RARE. VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF NEED HERE, A VERY TREMENDOUS NEEDS WHERE YOU NEED A PASSION AND LOVE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY. YOU MIGHT NOT GET THAT MUCH BENEFIT, BUT, YES, YOU WILL GET BENEFIT IN YOUR HEART SERVING THOSE UNDER-SERVED KIDS. AND, THEY WILL BE OUR FUTURE TOMORROW AND DAY AFTER TOMORROW. >>Ron: SO, A DOC SAYS, "WHY SHOULD I PRACTICE IN LAREDO AS OPPOSED TO HOUSTON, WHERE WE HAVE THE METROPOLITAN OPERA, AND WE HAVE THE BIG MUSEUMS, AND WE CAN GO TO BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AND FLY TO EUROPE ON A NON-STOP FLIGHT?" >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY. >>Ron: THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. >>Asim: THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. >>Ron: SO, IF YOU DO CONVINCE A PHYSICIAN, A RESIDENT YOU'RE TALKING TO AND HELPING TO ENCOURAGE TO GET HIS CONFIDENCE LEVEL UP TO GETTING HIS TICKET AT U.T.S.A., AT DRISCOLL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, AT TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, YOU SEE THOSE THAT HAVE THE REAL HEART, THE CARING HEART, AND THAT'S THE ONE YOU PUT YOUR MARK ON. >>Asim: YOU KNOW, JUST TEACHING THEM, YOU BECOME THEIR MENTOR, AND THEY, THEY WANT TO BE LIKE YOU. THEY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, DO THE THINGS LIKE YOU, AND THAT IS, THAT'S A GREAT IMPACT ON THOSE STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS, AND THEY REALLY WANT TO FOLLOW YOUR FOOTSTEPS, WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. AND, I HAVE QUITE A FEW EXAMPLES THAT I HAVE RECRUITED INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT. >>Ron: GIVE US ONE. GIVE US ONE. GIVE US YOUR BEST EXAMPLE. >>Asim: WELL, MY STUDENT THAT I TRAINED HAS COME BACK TO BROWNSVILLE AND IS SERVING THE BROWNSVILLE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER AS A PEDIATRICIAN, THAT I TRAINED HERE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER-SAN ANTONIO. AND, SHE WENT TO SCHOOL AFTER MANY YEARS AND BECOME A DOCTOR, AND I RECRUITED HER, AND SHE WORK AT THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER IN BROWNSVILLE. >>Ron: AND, MAKING LESS MONEY ANNUALLY THAN SHE COULD MAKE ANYWHERE ELSE. >>Asim: AND, HIGH RISK. >>Ron: AND, HIGH RISK...HIGH RISK OF WHAT? >>Asim: OVER THE L-.. >>Ron: LAWSUITS. >>Asim: ..LAWSUITS. >>Ron: UNBELIEVABLE. >>Asim: YES SIR. >>Ron: UNBELIEVABLE. SO, REALLY, YOU'RE A SALESMAN FOR THE BORDER. >>Asim: THAT'S WHAT I THINK.. >>Ron: GREAT! THAT'S WHAT.. >>Asim: ..WELL, THAT I, WHEN I CAME HERE, WHEN I SAW THE NEED, YOU KNOW, I WAS OFFERED BY DRISCOLL A REALLY VERY DECENT JOB IN DRISCOLL. AND, WHEN I LEFT BROWNSVILLE FOR TWO WEEKS, IT WAS DECEMBER, YOU KNOW, CHRISTMAS TIME, MY HEART WAS NOT DOING GOOD BECAUSE I HAVE SO MANY PATIENTS CALLING ME FROM HERE, ASKING ME HELP. AND, THAT TIME I DECIDED, I KNOW I NEED TO GO AND SERVE THIS COMMUNITY, AND I CAME BACK, AND I BECOME BROWNSVILLIAN SINCE THEN. >>Ron: SO, DRISCOLL WANTED YOU TO OPERATE OUT OF THEIR HEADQUARTERS OFFICE IN CORPUS CHRISTI.. >>Asim: YES. >>Ron: ..WHICH IS SOMEWHAT AKIN TO THE BORDER REGION. IT'S SIMILAR TO THE BORDER REGION, PREDOMINANTLY HISPANIC, ALSO LOW-INCOME. BUT, YET, IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A CUT BETWEEN THE BORDER REGION AND THE URBANIZED AREA, HOUSTON, DALLAS, FORT WORTH, SAN ANTONIO. >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. >>Ron: SO, CORPUS CHRISTI DOES HAVE THE MUSEUM, AND THEY DO HAVE CERTAIN THINGS THAT THE BORDER REGION DOESN'T HAVE. >>Asim: YEAH. >>Ron: SO, YOU MADE THAT DECISION, I'M NOT GONNA TAKE THAT BIG JOB IN CORPUS, I'M GONNA COME TO WHERE THE NEED IS, AND THAT'S AT THE BORDER OF SOUTH TEXAS AND NORTHERN MEXICO. >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY. AND, I GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE FOR THAT. WHEN I CAME TO BROWNSVILLE, I WAS THE 14th PEDIATRICIAN IN BROWNSVILLE, NOW WE HAVE 42 PEDIATRICIANS. SO, YOU CAN SEE THE GROWTH.. >>Ron: RIGHT. >>Asim: ..IN BETWEEN '96 TO 2009. >>Ron: BUT, STILL MEDICALLY UNDER-SERVED. >>Asim: IT'S STILL MEDICALLY UNDER-SERVED. IT'S STILL SO MANY CHILDRENS ARE NOT COVERED WITH THE SERVICES, MEDICAID, CHIPs, HEALTH INSURANCES. >>Ron: OUR CONVERSATION WITH THIS UNIQUE PEDIATRICIAN IN A MOMENT. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>Ron: WELCOME BACK. ASIM ZAMIR, PEDIATRICIAN, DOCTOR, THE PRIMARY C.E.O. OF BROWNSVILLE CHILDREN'S CLINIC, ALSO FORMERLY THE CHIEF PEDIATRIC SERVICES AT VALLEY REGIONAL HOSPITAL, CURRENTLY ON STAFF AS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, AND DRISCOLL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL-CORPUS CHRISTI, LAREDO, BROWNSVILLE, AND HARLINGEN. DOCTOR ZAMIR, EXPLAIN TO THE AUDIENCE WHAT THESE CHILDREN LOOK LIKE SOCIO-ECONOMICALLY THAT COME IN AND THEY USE THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE IN ORDER TO GET HEALTHCARE SERVICES AT YOUR CLINIC AND OTHERS ALONG THE BORDER REGION. >>Asim Zamir: WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY SAD TO SAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, YOU SAID WE LIVE ON A BORDER, AND, FROM THE MIGRATION, THE POVERTY AT THE BORDER LEVEL IS TREMENDOUS. IT'S HARD TO SEE A FAMILY LIVING IN THE SO DEPRIVED CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S CERTAIN COMMUNITIES LIKE CAMERON PARK IN BROWNSVILLE, AND HARVEY PARK ON BOCA CHICA CLOSE TO THE BEACH, IF YOU SEE THE HOUSES THERE.. >>Ron: THE AUDIENCE IS SEEING RIGHT NOW ON THE SCREEN SOME PICTURES TAKEN AT SOME COLONIAS IN HIDALGO COUNTY RECENTLY. THEY ARE SEEING OPEN LATRINES. THEY'RE SEEING PEOPLE LIVING IN AREAS THAT MAY NOT HAVE ELECTRICITY.. >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY. >>Ron: ..DO NOT HAVE INDOOR PLUMBING TO A BIG DEGREE, AND LIVE IN CERTAINLY UNHEALTHY CIRCUMSTANCE. >>Asim: 104 DEGREE OUTSIDE AND THERE IS NO AIR CONDITION IN THE HOUSE, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT, YOU KNOW, WHAT COMPLICATION IF THEY HAVE ANY S-, KIND OF ILLNESS, PREVIOUS ILLNESSES, HOW COMPLICATED THEY WILL GET WITH THE HEAT STROKE, HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES? AND, PLUS, YOU KNOW, THE HYGIENE OF THE AREAS, THE FOOD THEY EAT, THAT'S WHY WE SEE MORE ILLNESSES HERE IN THIS AREA AS COMPARED TO OTHER PART OF THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT, WE HAVE WHAT YOU CALL BORDER SURVEILLANCE INFECTIOUS DISEASE CONTROL COMMITTEE, THAT WE MAKE, THAT HOW MUCH WE HAVE THE MIGRATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, ALONG WITH THE PEOPLE'S MIGRATION, THE DISEASES LIKE TUBERCULOSIS, THE HIGHEST INCIDENCE IN SOUTH TEXAS, THE HIGHEST INCIDENCE IN THE COUNTRY. SO WE ARE THE GATEKEEPER HERE. WE STOP THE DISEASES AND TREAT THEM HERE AT THE DOOR SO THAT IT WON'T SPREAD TO THE COUNTRY AND OTHER PART OF THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY. >>Ron: SO, IF A DISEASE IS CAUGHT IN LAREDO, CAUGHT IN THE McALLEN AREA, HIDALGO COUNTY, CAMERON COUNTY, CORPUS CHRISTI, THEN IT'S GONNA BE PROTECTING THE REST OF THE NATION, HEALTHCARE-WISE. >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. AND, A PERFECT EXAMPLE IS THE SWINE FLU CASE. THAT FIRST KID WHO DIED CAME FROM BROWNSVILLE TO TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. AND, HE WAS FROM BROWNSVILLE. HE WAS TRAVELING FROM MEXICO, CAME TO BROWNSVILLE, STAYED HERE TWO DAYS, AND GOT COMPLICATED, GOT TRANSFERRED TO TEXAS CHILDREN, AND DIED. >>Ron: DOCTOR, YOU TALK ABOUT CHILDREN WITH HEAT STROKE. YOU HAVE THAT HAPPEN QUITE OFTEN? >>Asim: WE SEE QUITE OFTEN, IN ESPECIALLY TIME OF THE YEAR NOW, IN JUNE AND JULY, YOU KNOW, THE PARENTS, THEY DON'T HAVE THE AIR CONDITION IN THE CAR, AND THEY PICK UP THE CHILDRENS AT SCHOOL, AND THE MOTHER ACCIDENTALLY STOP AT THE GROCERY STORE TO PICK UP SOME FOOD. SHE THINKS IN HER MIND THAT SHE'S GONNA SPEND TWO MINUTES TO PICK UP SOMETHING, AND SHE LEAVES THE CAR BEHIND OUTSIDE IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE KIDS IN THERE WITH NO AIR CONDITION. AND, BY THE TIME SHE COMES BACK, HE'S FIND, AND THIS IS A TRUE EXAMPLE I'M GIVING, WHEN SHE FIND ONE OF THE CHILD IS IN A COMA, IS PASSED OUT. AND, CALLING EMERGENCY, CALLING AMBULANCE. AND, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FAMILIES EVERY YEAR WE SEE THE CHILDREN DIED FROM THE HEAT STROKE. >>Ron: DO YOU HAVE ANY HEAT STROKE ACTUALLY IN THE MOBILE HOME, IN THE PLACE WHERE THEY RESIDE? I SAW SOME CHILDREN LIVING IN A PRETTY IMPOVERISHED COLONIA IN HIDALGO COUNTY, IN THE PICTURES THAT THE AUDIENCE HAS SEEN ON THE SCREEN HERE DURING THIS PROGRAM, AND ALL THEY HAD WAS A FAN. I'M SITTING THERE WITH THEM, WHILE WE'RE TAKING THESE PICTURES, AND THERE'S NO AIR CONDITIONING. THEY HAVE A FAN ON THE FLOOR, IT'S TURNED UP ON HIGH IN ORDER TO SURVIVE IN THIS HUNDRED DEGREE TEMPERATURE. >>Asim: IMAGINE, I'M SO THANKFUL TO YOU THAT YOU WENT THERE PERSONALLY AND EXPERIENCED THAT, AND HOW HARD IT WAS TO FEEL THAT HEAT JUST FOR AN HOUR AND TWO WHEN YOU WERE THERE, AS COMPARED TO PEOPLE LIVING THERE, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDRENS. >>Ron: EXPLAIN TO THE AUDIENCE THE RANKING, BASICALLY OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, WHAT KINDS OF MALADIES ARE YOU SEEING ON THE BEHALF OF YOUR PATIENTS THAT YOU'RE TREATING THEM FOR? WHAT'D BE THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU TREAT, NUMBER TWO, NUMBER THREE, AND SO-FORTH? >>Asim: THE MOST COMMON THAT WE SEE HERE IN CHILDREN'S IS THE HIGH RISING INCIDENCE OF ASTHMA AND LUNG DISEASES. IT'S TREMENDOUS, BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THE ATMOSPHERE THAT WE'RE LIVING IN THE HOUSING ENVIRONMENT, AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENT, AND THAT'S THE MOST COMMON. WE SEE THE ASTHMA AND BRONCHITIS IN THE CHILDRENS. AND, IN THE WINTER TIME, IT'S SO OVERWHELMING TO TREAT THAT NUMBER OF PATIENTS THAT COMES TO THE PRACTICE AND TO THE HOSPITAL. IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN THOSE NUMBERS. AND, THE MORE SMALLER THE CHILD WITH BRONCHITIS, THE MORE WORSE DISEASE THEY GET. AND, THEY END UP ON, HAVING THE INTUBATION, AND OF BEING ON THE MACHINES. THE OTHER MOST COMMON WE SEE IS A STOMACH INFECTION. I GUESS IT'S BECAUSE OF, AGAIN, SAME ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, POOR SANITATION, POOR HYGIENE, AND SO THAT'S-, COME THE SUMMER TIME WE SEE A HIGH RISING INCIDENCE OF, AND STOMACH INFECTIONS WITH THE VIRUSES, BACTERIAS, AND THIS IS LIKE SALMONELLA. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CONTROLLED AND CONTAINED SALMONELLA AND SHIGELLA ALOT, BUT BECAUSE ON THE BORDER, WE SEE THESE KIDS STILL SEE THESE CASES BECAUSE OF THE MIGRATION FROM MEXICO. >>Ron: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK. STAY TUNED. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>Ron: WELCOME BACK. OUR GUEST FOR THIS CONVERSATION, ASIM ZAMIR, PEDIATRICIAN WHO HAS PRACTICED 15 YEARS ALONG THE BORDER REGION. TELL US, AND THE AUDIENCE, WHY THEY SHOULD BE CONCERNED THAT THE CHILDREN OF TEXAS, AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE BORDER REGION WHERE YOU PRACTICE, SHOULD BE PROVIDED FEDERAL AND STATE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE PROVIDED TO THEM. IS IT IN THEIR BENEFIT? >>Asim Zamir: ABSOLUTELY. >>Ron: IT'S THEIR TAX DOLLARS. >>Asim: THEIR TAX DOLLAR. LET ME, LET ME EXPLAIN THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DETAIL. THESE CHILDRENS ARE THE FUTURE, ARE OUR FUTURE. AND, IF YOU CAN LOOK AT THE MOST COM-.. >>Ron: FOR TEXAS AND THE UNITED STATES. >>Asim: ..AND TEXAS AND THE UNITED STATES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE HIGH SCHOOL DROP-OUT RATE IN THE COUNTRY, IT'S HIGHEST IN THE SOUTH TEXAS. AND, THERE IS ALOT OF FACTORS PLAY TO THIS, BUT POVERTY IS NUMBER ONE. IF YOU DON'T PROVIDE THEM GOOD HEALTH AND GOOD EDUCATION, THEY WILL NOT BE A GOOD FUTURE TOMORROW. WE SEE, IT'S SO SAD TO SAY, TO SEE THOSE CHILDRENS NOT GRADUATING FROM A SCHOOL. TEENAGE PREGNANCIES, TEENAGE PARENTS, AND THEY HAVE A JOB, THEY GO WORK AT A FIVE DOLLAR, SIX DOLLAR, LOWEST-PAYING JOB, AND WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THEM TO PAY THE TAXES? IF THEY DON'T GET THE EDUCATION, THEY WILL NOT MOVE HIGHER LEVEL, THEY WILL NOT PAY THEIR TAX, AND WILL BE IN THE CIRCLE WHAT WE ARE IN. SO, I THINK, IN MY OPINION, WE NEED TO PROVIDE THEM A GOOD HEALTHCARE, AND GOOD EDUCATION, SO THEY CAN BUILD THEIR FUTURE AND CAN BE OUR BRIGHTER FUTURE. >>Ron: TO BE A PRODUCTIVE.. >>Asim: PRODUCTIVE. >>Ron: ..CONTRIBUTOR TO OUR SOCIETY AND TO OUR.. >>Asim: TO OUR S-.. >>Ron: ..NATION, AND TO OUR STATE.. >>Asim: TO OUR COUNTRY. >>Ron: ..RATHER THAN BEING ON THE PUBLIC DOLE. >>Asim: ABSOLUTELY. AND, THAT'S HOW THE CIRCLE, CYCLE GOES ON AND ON. >>Ron: DOCTOR ZAMIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. TILL NEXT TIME. ADIOS.