TURNING DREAMS INTO REALITY

 Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.  Protest is a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something. Justice is an action that is morally right and fair.  Justice means rewarding or punishing everyone according to their actions.  Fairness is the equality of making judgements that are free from discrimination.  Fairness means treating everyone equally.  Equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, right, and opportunities.  Visible means able to be seen.  Respect is a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.  Change means make or become different. “a proposal to change the law”. Liberty is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views.  

Liberty is the freedom from physical restraint.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Definitions from Oxford Language

 (Nashville, TN) – Dr. Dorsha James, MD wants everyone to have access to doctors when they need them. To help accomplish her goal, she launched the telemedicine company myURGENCYMD. myURGENCYMD provides its members access to caring board-certified physicians in their area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone, video, or email. Individuals can easily request a virtual consultation for treating conditions such as cold and flu symptoms, sinus problems, respiratory infections, allergies, some STDs, urinary tract infections, and many other non-emergency illnesses. These services are easy to utilize, affordable, and convenient with physicians “on-call” in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. At a time when the general public is encouraged to stay at home as much as possible and practice social distancing to decrease the risk of contracting the coronavirus, being able to speak to a physician without having to leave home is invaluable. Membership can be obtained by visiting www.myURGENCYMD.com.  

For those without health insurance, telemedicine is a good option until they can obtain coverage and for those with insurance, telemedicine is a great supplemental service for companies that don’t offer it as part of their coverage. Anyone can become a member and telemedicine allows anyone with a smartphone access to non-emergency health services for a total cost of $24.95 a month or less than $300 a year. Another perk is one membership can be utilized by a household of up to seven people. The service is unlimited so members can schedule appointments as needed. It has no co-pays or additional fees and has a Spanish experience for those who need it.  As a 15-year veteran emergency medicine physician in the ever-growing city of Nashville, TN, Dr. Dorsha has seen what happens when people come to the hospital for non-life-threatening issues. “Unfortunately for some, the ER is the only place they can receive their care but ER’s are often overcrowded with extended wait times. myURGENCYMD allows patients with the ability to see a doctor from the comforts of home, bypassing doctor’s offices and waiting rooms and without the large hospital bill,” said Dr. Dorsha.  myURGENCYMD also provides mental health services. Many factors have caused an increase in depression and anxiety making access to mental health care imperative. A myURGENCYMD membership includes unlimited access to a Master’s Level Therapist and members also have a 100% guaranteed follow-up with their original therapist. 

Contributing Writer

Shelly R. Clark

Since March 2020, many people have been wearing masks due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Wearing a mask to cover the nose and mouth has been deemed as essential to potentially reduce the risk of transmitting or contracting the coronavirus. I’m not a doctor, so I can’t speak on the efficacy of masking up.  The whole point of the mask was for protection from this virus that just keeps lingering on and on…and on! It’s been a year now and I’ve got a box of masks in the car to ensure I’ve got one every where I go. I don’t know what I’m going to do with them if the whole world suddenly opens and we’re no longer required to wear them in stores or in the workplace.  At a recent doctor visit, I heard something interesting while the nurse was checking me in. They have had no patients come in sick because of the flu virus. Interesting, right? In years past, the flu virus ran rampant during the winter months and you knew at least one person that ended up with it. I’ve also observed less friends and family sick, in general, with the common cold. Could this mask mandate be providing protection that casts a wider net in helping us?  It could also be the result of our children staying home and having virtual school. When our little people get sick, inevitably mom and dad get sick too. Let’s be honest, the kiddos can be a breeding ground for germs as they learn, play, and interact with one another at school. Still, many parents are ready for the little darlings to mask up and go back to school ASAP.  With all the talk about masks, I had another random thought about the masks we were wearing long before COVID-19. Many of us were hiding behind one mask or another. To hide, to deceive or protect yourself? What kind of mask are you wearing? The mask of makeup covers the blemishes and scars we don’t want the world to see. The mask of a smile sometimes covers the pain of hurt and disappointment. Often, I think we wear masks to protect and hide ourselves. It seems easier to show the world what we want them to see or what we think they want to see to avoid judgement or shame.  Think about it. We cover facial blemishes and acne scars with concealer. We wear body shapers and waist trainers to hide the love handles that we don’t like. Many of the masks we wear are about hiding and protecting ourselves. Without them, we may not feel accepted.  For now, we are all under a mandate to wear the mask as a precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But, once it’s lifted, I’m going to re-evaluate all the masks I’ve been wearing to hide and protect myself. What’s behind your mask? I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful authentic you.