To the board of directors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center,

This proposal is being written to you in hopes of setting into motion the ideas herein.  The hope for this proposal is to make a healthy lifestyle more available to people from all walks of life.  By providing a cafeteria atmosphere with guides along the way for natural medicine, the goal will be to inform greater numbers of people of how their diet is affecting their life, to help build immunities and strengthen the body with food, and to collect hard data on the effects of a long-term, well maintained diet including supplements and the use of preventative medicine.  By providing this service you will create loyalty within these people and increase the chances of receiving payments from those who are often unable to pay.

1. Introduction

There are thousands of medications throughout the world that are designed to help the sick.  Arthaur Kleinman, M.D. said, “Illnesses are what patients have, and diseases are what doctors translate them into.”  The number of illnesses and diseases are constantly growing, and patients continue to seek treatment for what ails them.  The cost of maintaining the health of the general population is enormous and will continue to grow. In a world where, “over one billion are overweight or obese” (Food at Work) there is an obvious need for a change in the food systems.  As a staple to the medical community UPMC is dedicated to helping the people of Pittsburgh and across the globe.  From the hospitals to the research labs, UPMC has the ability to change the course of medical history.

There are millions, if not billions of dollars in unpaid hospital bills throughout the country.  Many of these bills would not exist had the patients been better educated and more informed of nutrition and basic health practices combined with better access to food.  “In 2005, health care expenditures in the United States reached nearly $2 trillion, with U.S. employers shouldering the majority of this burden.” (Mayo Clinic Health Solutions)  Although you cannot change the past, your company could help employers bare less of the burden by: making the sick and injury prone people more capable of earning better wages and preventing lost work time. “In the United States, where over two-thirds of the population is overweight, direct medical costs accounted for approximately US$51.6 billion and lost productivity approximately US$3.9 billion – reflected in 39.2 million lost work days, 239 million restricted-activity days, 89.5 million bed-days and 62.6 million physician visits” (ILO).  The future of medicine is in prevention and although surgery will be necessary for the remainder of human existence one can say that many surgeries are preventable not to mention the millions of cases where an injury would not have happened if the patient paid attention to their health. In the United States, “More than 1.7 million Americans die of a chronic disease each year, accounting for about 70% of all U.S. deaths,” these chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and cancer are combatable by taking a healthier approach to one’s lifestyle.  In addition, a better educated and healthier population will be more capable of paying their bills because they are more fit for work.

In addition to saving money and recuperating more money from debt, your company would be responsible for educating an entire generation of healthy and fit individuals.  These people would go out in the world representing your company with the physical appearance of health.  They would also act as teachers for those around them spreading the information gathered by your company.  By building a generation of people who are naturally resistant to injury and illness you are effectively changing the course of history.  These people would reach beyond the local population as some will travel to different parts of our country while others still would travel the world.  The United States is already a leader in medicine and if the coming generation reflected that knowledge in the matters of health, the respect for our country would grow significantly.

Lastly, by researching the effects of natural medicine on a large scale you will be the sole proprietor of highly valuable data to be used for all times.  By proving preventative medicine and naturopathy to be valid and educating the less fortunate population how to use this type of medicine, you will slingshot the under privileged into a new state of empowerment and gratitude.  Iron deficiency alone effects nearly 80% of the worlds population which can be remedied by something as simple as one cup of cooked spinach three times a week (Wanjek).  Every man and woman should have the chance to take care of themselves before running through the slew of medical evaluations and doctor visits.  By providing the means you are making more than an impact, you are creating a better future.

2. Proposal Basics

There are four main facets to this proposal:

1. Use the principals and the face of a fast food restaurant/cafeteria to collect the data and do the research surrounding natural medicine. 2. Base the available food options on medical evaluations done every four months, and on a blood test done daily.  3. Immediately begin educating participants on prevantative medicine.  4. Allow insurance coverage.

III. Offering Food Options Quickly

The average American is just now becoming aware of the ramifications of a meal at a fast food restaurant.  For many years people assumed out of ignorance that fast food was ok for you–they assumed that such large companies could not legally provide such an unhealthy service.  More and more now people are finding that fast food is a ticket to mood swings, poor circulation, diabetes, tiredness, weight gain and depression.  Not to mention the effects that these types of foods can have on pre-existing conditions like back problems, muscle weakness, anxiety disorders, and other mental health issues along with chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes.  

Many new companies are appearing that offer more reasonable food selections at similar prices to fast food such as Subway, Panera, and Brueggers.  Even the new Mexican sensations Qdoba and Chipotle offer a much more wholesome product than the McDonalds and Wendy’s group.  Companies such as Arby’s have begun offering their market deli sandwiches which provide a much healthier option than roast beef sandwiches with cheese sauce and curly fries.  You also have companies such as Jamba Juice and Smoothie King which offer meal replacement smoothies with a healthful edge.  Panera’s cafeteria style service is by far the best example of what this proposal is trying to offer.  Panera includes calorie counts on each of their menu selections and prepares all the sandwiches by hand as they are being ordered.  Taking what Panera offers and moving into the future you will find menu’s that educate their customers on the value of vitamin E in broccoli soup, the iron in a spinach salad, or that the “absorption of two key carotenoid antioxidants—lycopene and beta-carotene—increases significantly when fresh avocado (or avocado oil) [are] added to an otherwise avocado-free salad” (WHFoods).  In this proposal you will see that by using the attractive idea of the fast food, cafeteria style dining while collecting data from the customers as research participants, your company will gather valuable information regarding the future of non-traditional medicine in the United States.  

IV. Membership Program for Research Participants

First and foremost, the service should stand as a membership style program.  Though the service will be available to the public, their prices will be inflated in order to provoke interest in membership.  The essential function of the service is to provide healthy meals quickly to the public for a cost.  Whether this is in a dining room or to go, meals will be available to anyone at anytime during hours of operation.  The service will also provide personalized delivery options for the elderly, handicapped, and the corporate professionals.  Furthermore, parents who are consistently tied up with work will have the option to provide breakfasts and lunches to their children, whether it be delivered to their home or their school.  A number of different levels of to the service will be available, allowing the wealthy to have more deluxe options in their meal planning.

The food that requires precise portioning will be presented cafeteria style by a member of the kitchen team.  Foods that are less impactful and that can be eaten more freely will be presented buffet style, such as fresh fruits and vegetables.  Your plan for the day will list the best options based on your current condition.  In the event you are not looking for a meal, a snack bar with nuts, yogurt, granola, and dried fruit will be available with exact caloric portioning.  Explanations of the contents of each food item will be available along with the effects these foods have on one’s health.  Employees of the cafeteria will be available to help you create portions and clear up and confusion as to your plan for the day.  Emphasis on vegetarian options will be very clear and those concerned in the matter of protein will be directed to items such as sprouted wheat gluten and lentils.

V.  Medical Evaluation and Blood Tests

This foodservice will be unlike any other in that it serves multiple functions for the individual along with the entire population of the country.  When a client begins a membership they will be evaluated by an naturopathic doctor along with a traditional physician.  The two will work together, taking into account any chronic illnesses the customer may have.  They will also work to understand the clients goals and effectively prepare a plan that would get them there.  Although this service is primarily meant for people with debilitating diseases as the research is more concerned with these people, athletes, students, and the elderly would be encouraged to take part in order to have a baseline for the research.  As the doctors help maintain the plans for the clients, the clients will give a blood sample on a regular basis in order to keep their status up to date.  By monitoring blood sugar levels one can better understand what types of food they need to be consuming to give them the energy throughout the day.  Furthermore, these blood tests will help to keep an eye cholesterol and liver enzymes. 

VI. Combating Illnesses with Food

Overall, the function of the service is to help people live better lives with more energy and joy through the use of food and herbal remedies.  In addition, the service will be set-up in such a way that valuable research on non-traditional medicine will be gathered in a scientific way with well-educated individuals leading the way.  “In Canada, the cost effectiveness of workplace health promotion programmes is estimated to be US$1.50-5.75 for every corporate dollar invested” (Wanjek).  Furthermore, by giving the service to people you are teaching them how to live a healthy lifestyle granting them the ability to go out in the world and live more comfortably without the assistance of the food service and without the need for high paid doctors.  When people begin to learn how to take care of themselves better with the use of things that are available to anyone in this country the rate of injury and illness will drop and the medical world can focus more energy on things of greater impact.  Essentially you are teaching five things: 1. How to use food and herbs to medicate one’s self. 2. How to shop for one’s self and family in order to be healthy on a consistent basis. 3.  The effects of white sugar and flour on the immune system and nervous system.  4. The positive and negative effects of meat from slaughterhouses and how to observe the effects of meat and blood on your body.  5. How to build a natural and sustainable lifestyle within a reasonable price.

VII. Preparing the Next Generation with Preventative Medicine

Being responsible for preparing a generation to take care of one’s self and remove the dependence on pharmaceuticals would empower people and the country while providing valuable information to the rest of the world.  If this service was as commonplace to the individual as education, a coffee from Starbucks, or a sandwich from Panera the average American’s understanding of natural medicine and preventative medicine would function to increase the lifespan while building a smarter and stronger generation to come.

VIII. Qualifications

The qualifications of the author, Mario A. Spina, began with a degree in Culinary Arts from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.  Mario’s interest in the culinary arts started with his own quest to better himself and his health through proper diet and exercise.  As he became familiar with what it takes to live this lifestyle he realized how fortunate he was to have had the opportunities given to him as the information available on healthy lifestyles is available but lacks consistency.  Around 2010, Mario, in an attempt to combat lingering mental illness along with the development of arthritis, began taking supplements which spurted his interest in Herbology.  By 2015, Mario received his Bachelors of Science in Herbology from Northwest College of Natural Medicine in Portland.  With this degree and a solid five years of self-experimentation Mario had successfully treated himself for bipolar disorder and arthritis.  In hopes of following in the footsteps of his father, Mario sought out a medical degree of the natural sort from Bastyr university in Seattle, Washington.  As of 2019, Mario is now a doctor of Naturopathy (ND). 

 

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