Rx for Healthcare with @UNWELLUNLIMITEDLY

1) A photo of Kaia framed by an illustration of a cell phone. Black text that reads: “At its core, medicine has a power problem. Western medicine over everything else, doctors at the top, and patients are nowhere on the map.” 2) Text reads: Kaia M. Arrow (she/her) recently completed her Bachelor of Social Work. In her writing about the biopolitics of health and chronic illness, she brings together structural understandings of power with an anti-colonial, anti-capitalist, and body neutral approach. Kaia is a Mad, sick & disabled, queer, Filipina settler.]

YES! A more collaborative system – we NEED this! Love this powerful quote from Kaia @thewillowswork, who I’m featuring as part of my new series #RXingCare. Kaia is, among many things, my friend, neighbour, fellow #spoonie, and as of today, a voting buddy too. 💕

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I also love this quote from her:

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“Everyone in medicine- including patients- has their own expertise. We’d provide better care to everyone if we could work together.”

Do you agree? I DO!

Kaia also shared some other EXCELLENT prescriptions for our healthcare systems:

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“My dream healthcare experience is collaborative and interdisciplinary- not just between specialists, but between approaches. I’d love to see practitioners asking more questions and asking for help. Ask me what I think, and give my answer weight. I’d love to see a rheumatologist consult with a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, or a social worker consult with community elders in how best to support a family.

I’m imagining medicine gardens planted alongside hospitals built with access to nature in addition to sterility in mind- and nobody rolls their eyes when Indigenous healers bring their expertise to the bedside. “Helping professionals” asking permission to practice this kind of work on stolen land. I’m imagining naturopathy and acupuncture accessible to all, and healthcare available literally for all. I’m imagining asking for help and saying you’re sorry and being okay with learning and unlearning. I’m imagining community healing.”