Tag Archives: mental-health

How Primary Care and Community Organizing Can Bring Us Universal Health Care Now

1 Jun


by Ron Lovell, HCFA-WA Board Member

At our May 2nd Wednesday Speaker Series, we heard an inspiring presentation by Dr. Michael Fine, writer, community organizer, family physician, and President of Primary Care for All Americans.  His talk was based on his experience with organizing primary care clinics in several cities in the eastern United States. Read on for a recap and/or view his complete presentation on our YouTube channel.

First, Dr. Fine outlined the failures of the U.S. healthcare market, emphasizing poor health outcomes, high costs, and deep health disparities. He argued the root cause is inadequate access to robust primary care for all Americans, noting only 43% of adults have a meaningful primary care relationship. He highlighted primary care’s proven ability to reduce costs and improve public health, drawing comparisons to other essential community services like police, fire, and education.

He then described successful community-based models (e.g., Scituate, Rhode Island) and advocated for building a social movement, starting locally, to ensure universal primary care. He detailed strategies such as community meetings, local workgroups, playbooks, and local funding. He stressed the need for a massive increase in primary care workforce and fairer reimbursement models, calling for a shift from fee-for-service to per-person payments.

HCFA-WA volunteer Dr. John Sobeck led the Q&A Session. He was joined by Primary Care Innovator Dr. Garrison Bliss who addressed these questions:

  • the critical shortage of primary care providers and the need to expand training and residencies
  • the imbalance in reimbursement that drives clinicians away from primary care
  • panel sizes for sustainable primary care practice (ideally 300-500 patients per doctor).
  • funding models, including local government and employer-based approaches
  • concerns about cherry-picking patients and ensuring equitable access
  • the role of direct primary care and its affordability for communities
  • incentivizing new graduates to serve in underserved areas, including loan forgiveness and community support
  • collaboration between organizations (Health Care for All-Washington, Whole Washington) toward single-payer and universal healthcare goals

Key Takeaways:

  • Universal primary care is essential, affordable, and achievable through community organizing.
  • The U.S. must address workforce shortages, payment reform, and health disparities.
  • Social movements, not just legislation, are needed to drive systemic healthcare change.
  • Ongoing community engagement, collaboration, and advocacy are critical for progress.

For more details on Dr. Fine’s work, please see this additional resource: The Path to Health Care for All Starts with Community-based Primary Care

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SOULPACT: A Philosophy for Mindful Living

20 May

SOULPACT emerged in the early 2020s as a response to the increasing complexity and fragmentation of modern life. Created by psychologist Dr. Elena Mercer and philosopher Thomas Chen, this holistic life philosophy offers a framework for achieving balance and fulfillment through eight interconnected principles.

The Birth of a New Paradigm

The concept was born during a series of dialogues between Mercer and Chen at the Institute for Mindful Living in 2023. Both had independently observed how people struggled with information overload, decision fatigue, and a pervasive sense of disconnection. They recognized that existing wellness frameworks often addressed symptoms rather than root causes.

“We wanted to create something that honored the whole person and provided practical guidance for navigating life’s complexities,” explains Dr. Mercer. “Each letter in SOULPACT represents a fundamental aspect of human experience that, when harmonized, creates a life of meaning and joy.”

The Eight Principles

Simplicity forms the foundation of SOULPACT, advocating for the elimination of unnecessary complexity in thought and action. This creates space for Opportunity – the recognition and pursuit of possibilities aligned with one’s values.  Uniqueness celebrates individual differences and talents, while Love encompasses compassion for self and others.

Purpose provides direction and meaning, answering the fundamental question of “why.” Abundance shifts focus from scarcity to gratitude and generosity, while Calm cultivates inner peace regardless of external circumstances. Finally, Time emphasizes mindful presence and intentional choices about how we spend our moments.

A Growing Movement

Since its introduction, SOULPACT has gained traction in wellness communities, corporate settings, and educational institutions. Practitioners report improved well-being, greater clarity in decision-making, and deeper connections in relationships.

“SOULPACT isn’t about adding more to your life,” Chen notes. “It’s about distilling life to its essential elements and experiencing each fully. When these eight principles are in harmony, we discover that what we’ve been searching for has been within us all along.”

There is no single organization dedicated to SOULPACT: it is a concept that anyone can use to achieve a peaceful tranquility while still actively engaging in the chaos we find ourselves in.

I have not found a single reference that focuses on the SOULPACT concept, but here are some resources that explore the concepts:

Simplicity: The Laws of Simplicity by John Maeda offers practical guidance on reducing complexity and focusing on what matters most.

Purpose and Meaning: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl and A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle are highly regarded for their exploration of meaning, purpose, and mindful living.

Abundance and Mindfulness: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama focus on cultivating presence, gratitude, and inner peace.

Love and Uniqueness: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz and The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer discuss self-love, authenticity, and living true to oneself.

Calm and Time: Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh and Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki emphasize mindfulness, calm, and living in the present moment.

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