From the award-winning PBS series P.O.V., "Critical Condition" airs on September 30, 2008, at a special time – 8 p.m. It looks at an urgent election-year issue: what happens if you fall sick and are one of the 47 million people in America without health insurance? "Critical Condition" by filmmaker Roger Weisberg puts a human face on the nation's growing health care crisis by capturing the harrowing struggles of four critically ill Americans – one of them an Austinite – who discover that being uninsured can cost them their jobs, health, home, savings, even their lives.
Spurred by this national documentary, KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, has partnered with 12 local organizations for Critical Condition: Central Texas. This awareness campaign includes the airing of the national documentary, the creation of video vignettes capturing Central Texans' stories and this Web site with information on local, regional and national resources. Additionally, Critical Condition: Central Texas is organizing a community forum to be held in mid-November to look toward identifying strategic cooperation and next steps on this serious issue.
Facilitated by KLRU, 12 health care organizations have been meeting since June to raise awareness about the lack of affordable health insurance in Central Texas. The group is discussing the status of current systems in place to provide assistance and working together as a community to find solutions to the problem. The group includes the American Cancer Society, Austin/Travis County Community Health Centers, Austin Travis County MHMR Center, Center for Public Policy Priorities, Integrated Care Collaboration, insure-a-kid, Lone Star Circle of Care, People's Community Clinic, Seton Family of Hospitals, St. David's Community Health Foundation, Texans Care for Children, and the Travis County Healthcare District.