Report from Demonstration at Highland Hospital

When I arrived at Highland Hospital this morning, it was hard to believe that a grand commemoration ceremony was about to take place. However, it did, and I learned a lot about the Alameda County Medical Center.

At 11am, there were about four activists on the sidewalk setting up a banner and handing out flyers. In an off-street parking area, chairs and a podium were being set up by three or four people. The protesters waffled back and forth between different places to stand to get their message across. Hospital security guards and passersby were friendly. One vigilant protester eventually noticed people who were on a tour of the building, and gave a flyer to each of those people.

When the building opening ceremony was about to begin, the protesters went into the parking lot and held the banner in a place where the speakers and people standing at the side of the crowd couldn't help but read its message. I could tell from the conversations that some people had with the PUSH people that the staff is sympathetic to PUSH's message.

I was somewhat appalled when the hospital chaplain got up and led the crowd in prayer. Christian prayer. And then when the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir performed, I learned that the word "interfaith" does not mean that they consider the fact that not everyone in their audiences is christian. I guess that I had always misinterpreted the name of the choir meant that it bridged different kinds of faith. I guess that that would be intrafaith. Either way, I had no idea that Alameda County's official religion is christianity. I wonder if jews, hindus, muslims, pagans, and atheists are comfortable at this medical facility, and if they would feel comfortable pointing out the county's bias towards christianity.

Various speakers followed the choir. It was interesting to learn that it had taken ten years to construct this building. People seemed committed to the idea of serving people with adequate health care, but while I was present, I did not witness a space for patients to talk about what the Alameda County Medical Center meant to them, or how it had helped them.

I thought back on a woman whom I saw two years ago in the ER at Highland Hospital. She was intoxicated and had a head injury. She became impatient, took off her neck brace, and walked out without any of the staff noticing. I hope that she is okay, but I wonder how many other people every day don't receive the health care that they need from this facility, and if care will improve with fewer people staffing the hospital.