Achieving our mission to "promote the health and wellness of the residents of our community, especially the uninsured and underinsured, by working together to ensure access to a full range of coordinated healthcare services" is no simple task. That's because roughly 25 percent of all Texas are without health insurance. We in Travis County fare a little better at around 20 percent.

Neither figure is acceptable.

Despite rising health care costs, the Travis County Healthcare District has consistently increased access to health care for eligible residents. But we face the numbing reality that overall health care needs of our community continue to rise.

We are not alone in this problem. Despite spending 50 percent more on health care than any other country in the world, the United States ranks 15th in preventable death, 24th in life expectancy and 28th in infant mortality. While the debate over health care continues in Washington, the bottom line is more people every day must choose to or are forced to go without medical insurance. They forfeit essential medications, routine checkups, even life-saving surgeries, because they can't afford them. As a result, our friends, co-workers, neighbors and relatives do not receive the care they need to live healthy, productive lives.

Twelve area health-care organizations and our local public television station, KLRU, have banded together in the collaborative campaign "Critical Condition: Central Texas." The collaboration was prompted by KLRU's broadcast of "Critical Condition" (scheduled for 8 p.m. tonight), a documentary from the award-winning PBS series "P.O.V." that explores the nation's health care crisis. Stories of four critically ill and uninsured Americans illustrate the devastating impact of the lack of health insurance. One of the stories features Karen Dove, a Central Texan whose diagnosis of ovarian cancer is complicated by her lack of access to care. If we ignore the endless political arguments surrounding the issue and take a look into the lives of what are increasingly typical American families, we will all have a better understanding of the preventable tragedies that invariably result from the lack of access to health care. The documentary attempts to do just that and we should all pay attention to the stories it tells.

In addition to the broadcast of "Critical Condition," KLRU has posted short video vignettes capturing several Central Texans' health stories at www.klru.org/criticalcondition. The site offers an opportunity to share your own story or ask a question about the challenges we face in Central Texas.

The Travis County Healthcare District works with other health care partners to support our local network of care for uninsured and underinsured residents serving thousands and thousands of Travis County residents every year, and that number continues to grow. We are very proud of the work we all do and strive every day to do more. But we can only do so much, and in many ways, we are fighting the tide. We must all increase our understanding and awareness of this critical issue and work to develop and implement solutions that will improve, enhance and save lives. We need your help and involvement to work together to face this critical condition with the creative energy that we have in Central Texas.

Richie, an Austin lawyer, is chairman of the Travis County Healthcare District board of managers.