Is That Opportunity Knocking?

Highway speed cameras are commonly used inacross the country sold fast food like
Europe, but they are currently used in only two U.S.McDonald’s and Pizza Hut. Nevertheless, some
states. As of October 1, 2009 Maryland will allowhospitals have not only gotten rid of fast food, they
speed cameras in highway work zones and onhave also gotten rid of deep-fat fryers and trans
highways within a half-mile radius of schools. Infats. Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest
Arizona, however, there is legislation to have speednot-for-profit health system, has farmers’
cameras removed from the state’s highways inmarkets in the parking lots of 30 of its hospitals.
2010. Although speed cameras have reducedAlthough these farmers’ markets are mostly in
fatalities, crashes and speeding when used on otherthe western states, the concept has spread to
types of roadways, the main argument against themplaces like Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York
is that states want highway speed cameras forand Vanderbilt Medical Center in Tennessee. Hospitals
financial profit. In a perfect world, we all would profitare going green – leafy green.
from our experience and not speed.Across the country there are summer camps for
Although several states have passed legislation toadults – places where adults can indulge in
require drug companies to disclose all gifts orparticular interests or just relax with other grown-up
payments to doctors, Vermont’s bill, whichkids at a resort in the Connecticut Berkshire
became law July 2009, is the strictest and mostMountains. Blue Lakes Fine Arts Camp in Michigan
transparent yet. The bill does not stop drugreconnects musicians with music. At Crow Canyon
companies from spending millions to influenceArcheological Center in Cortez, Colorado adult
physicians’ prescribing practices, but the state ofcampers dig for artifacts. Santa Fe Photographic
Vermont wants its citizens to know exactly whatWorkshops in New Mexico provide week-long camps
their doctors have received and from whom.that are almost picture-perfect; and Second City
Freebies to doctors include meals, theater tickets,Training Center in Chicago, Illinois offers 1 or 2-week
trips and compensation for lecturing at conventions.camps in improvisation and comedy writing. Summer
There is a federal bill in the works, but itscamps for adults let the inner child come out and
transparency is likely to have several opaque areas.play.
A 2006 study showed that 42% of 234 U.S. hospitals