Opinion

I have read the response and questions presented by Mr. Kevin Doherty. I have also been in health care for well over 20 years. I  have worked in hospitals all over California, across the country, and in the private sector as well. Mr. Doherty is correct in his observations and the roles of governing agencies at the state and federal levels. It is their job to find where there is improvement to grow and to be sure that the hospitals are functioning at the levels that have been sent forth by them. Every hospital that I have worked at has stories of great work for their community and their patients. The scene of lives being saved and making people comfortable happen at all of them. There are so many unsung heroes in every hospital, at so many different levels.

American Voters have vital choices for medical care this November. Strengthen the Affordable Care Act by adding the Public Option and reduce the deficit by $143 billion or repeal the law and turn control of medical care back to insurance companies, boost the deficit by $109 billion. Strengthen Medicare and provide funding to cover America's middle class or replace Medicare with a voucher system to improve insurance company profit margins. Interesting to see what voters decide.

By Tom and Karen Lantz

I have been in the Health Care business for over 20 years and have worked at a number of hospitals in this state and abroad. Every time the surveyors, State or Federal, inspect a facility they find points of "non-compliance" and “deficiencies”. In fact it's their job to find these issues. Just as a driver risks losing his/her right to drive if they do not comply with the rules of the road, hospitals must follow their own set or rules or risk penalty. When a surveyor finds a hospital out of compliance on something, there is the threat of Federal/State funds being pulled. This is nothing new. It happens all the time and at every hospital in the country. This is all part of the process that helps a hospital achieve excellence in patient care and safety. Why don't your reporters report these facts? Why does the local paper here not support their only hospital? The reporting is so negative and full of doom that I believe you are doing your readership a disservice. Do you ever consider celebrating the good work Saint Louise does on a daily basis? I see it from the front row. I’ve seen lives saved here. I see people made well here every day. Do you think we will see a front page story on one of the very many wonderful successes achieved at Saint Louise?

In addition to the very thrilling reports of Hollister’s baseball playing youngsters and their moves toward regional championships, the July 10 issue of the Free Lance was filled with many other relevant and timely articles of interest. Although I usually start with the sports page and then consume anything written on the subjects of local or state government and the criminal justice system, I was stopped by hitting a brick wall by the opinion page article written by 16-year-old Nicole Huxtable.

A few months ago, I wrote a letter to the editor defending Joe Paterno and his record at Penn State University. As time has passed and the investigation shows that he did cover up the truth I feel it necessary to acknowledge that I was wrong, and that I would like to apologize to all of the readers of the Free Lance.