What's the real reason?

On the front page of The Commercial Review newspaper, Sept. 19, 2003, under the head of MEETING, Jay County Hospital board will be offering a proposal to certify Jay County Hospital as a critical care facility in order to get a higher rate of reimbursement from Medicare.

Since I cannot be at the meeting, I have a few questions for the Jay County Hospital board and the citizens of Jay County.

1. Do you want more competent care of the patients, or is that too much to ask.

2. Is money the only criteria involved.

3. If so, why?

4. Example.

I know of a person who was in acute abdominal pain, went to a prominent local doctor, was referred to a surgeon, the surgeon admitted the person to the hospital, the patient had a series of admission tests including x-rays, blood, urine, cat scan, etc. Surgeon saw this patient for a total of 10 minutes, dressed in a dirty T-shirt and jeans, had the nurse insert a gastrointestinal tube, never discussing the results of the tests, etc. He gave the patient no diagnosis, nor prognosis and no treatment plan to alleviate the pain. This patient had no food, water nor nursing care and the nurses partied all afternoon at the nurses’ station, ignoring the patient. The patient went home at 9 or 9:30 p.m.

This is a travesty. Yes, the patient went back to the doctor’s office, but they had lost his chart. So other questions arise. Is this the care we want for ourselves and for our families.

Why concentrate on more money. Why not take better care of the patient.

Next time is may be your family or you.

A concerned citizen

Louise M. Toth

Portland

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