Arthritis Foundation doesn't really do anything for patients.

The above was the response I received to confirm the information in this article: https://southfloridahospitalnews.com/page/Local_Rheumatologists_Fight_to_Save_40yearold_Free_Clinics_/16412/25/

See full article at link above.

Why it matters:

National Arthritis Foundation Threatening to Discontinue Critical Program

July 20 2020 - The top nine executives at the National Arthritis Foundation make more than $200,000 a year each, including $592,831 for the CEO, according to the organization’s 2018 IRS FORM 990. Yet, the organization claims it doesn’t have the less than $50,000 a year to continue a program in Palm Beach and Martin Counties that has provided free care for more than 700 patients who suffer from severe arthritic symptoms.

For more than 40 years, local rheumatologists have donated their services at four Quick Family Arthritis Foundation Clinic locations to help patients. Mike Schweitz, MD, one of the clinic’s founders, and Shawn Baca, MD, are among 14 local rheumatologists who donate their time to care for patients. They are sounding the alarm about what they say could be a devastating decision. The clinics are located in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach and Stuart.

“These patients cannot afford the specialized care or the expensive medications without the support of these clinics,” stressed Dr. Schweitz.

“There is nowhere else for these patients to go,” added Shawn Baca, M.D., whose Rheumatology Associates of South Florida practice supports the clinics and works with pharmaceutical companies to donate the necessary drugs. “Closing these clinics simply isn’t an acceptable option.”

Dr. Baca concluded: “The donors and patients in this community feel slighted that the fund raising they have done for the Arthritis Foundation over the years is no longer being spent to help patients as originally intended.”

To support this effort to save the Florida Arthritis Foundation Clinics, please reach out to the organization’s national CEO Ann Palmer at apalmer@arthritis.org.

Pay attention to words, they matter.

Merriam-Webster defines access as:

permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, or pass to and from a place or to approach or communicate with a person or thing.

Let’s be clear when it comes to the word "access".

Access does not = successfully obtaining anything.

“Permission” doesn’t mean anything other than you can do something.

“Liberty” you may do as you wish. Again, so. How do they help me here?

“Or ability to enter” I can enter through the office or hospital door, turn back around and leave. I can enter doesn't mean anything at the end of the day. I can enter and exit the door and then what?

“Or pass to and from a place” I can go past the doctor's office. In the door more than once. I can go back and forth from one office to another, and still turn and walk out without receiving care. I guess I get a few steps of exercise in.

“Or to approach OR communicate with a person or thing” so I can approach the doctor’s office, hospital, or telemed doc and make an inquiry or comment but again nothing of substance comes of that either.

My point is, “where is the money going”? In my humble opinion, still not to patients that need it most.

Now is the time to rally together Rheumatoid warriors. Email CEO Ann Palmer at apalmer@arthritis.org now.

Fight for your fellow RAwarriors. Get out and Vote! Vote with your money, vote with your fork, spoons and dinner plate! Vote with your shopping carts! Vote with your follows and likes!

#Rheumatoid #RheumatoidArthritis #RheumatoidDisease #RAwarrior #RAwarriors #spooniesisterhood #InvisableIllness #chronicpain #jointpain #Arthritis #artritis

#enfermedadreumatoide #ArtritisReumatoide #RA #RD #autoinmune #enfermedadautoinmune #simplyrheumatoid