I want, I want...

Posted

To the Editor:
All I hear from PCMH employees is I want! They want more technology. More technology equals less personal care. That means “I don’t have to go check on my patients anymore, I just can look at a screen and then the problem is solved.” That is the new compassionate way for our healthcare providers?
Can a stranger in St. Louis, that has never seen me, diagnose my problem? I always thought a board certified doctor should examine and diagnose a medical problem.
We DO NOT need big city politicians and corporations running our small town, rural community. We will lose TOTAL control over our hospital. We, the local people, will have no say in any decisions.
I have heard of no offers for two of our board members to have seats of Mercy’s MAIN board. They will make ALL decisions and tell us what, and when, to do it!
What has happened to the friendly, neighborly, rural community? The one we used to have – where kids played with other kids – trucks, dolls and ball games. Now they have temper tandrums and dirty looks, when they are asked to put down their phones and Android tablets!
There is NO communication, NO “family” time anymore. What happened to a family dinner every night, a family movie with popcorn, playing games together, going to the park, or a creek, for a picnic lunch, taking a drive in the country, tales from our ancestors?
TECHNOLOGY! TECHNOLOGY! TECHNOLOGY!
Who are your children, or your parents? Do you REALLY know who they are? Do you know their favorite color, favorite drink, favorite food, favorite movie, favorite clothes? This is why we have more suicides, more crimes. WE don’t know the people around us to see any warning signs. But we need more technology!!
I attended the first public hospital. It was with SE Health. I felt Mr. Ken Bateman did a good job. He outline what they would do to provide better healthcare and transparency. They would bring full time specialists here, put two of our board members on their board, and help ALL of the businesses and medical help by bring into Perry County a nursing school and SEMO degrees. A nursing school that is close in Cape, highly accredited, respected and compassionate teachers and students.

I attended the second public forum, with an open mind. It was with, not the MAIN board but, Mercy Festus. Their emphasis was on the TECHNOLOGY they would bring. Maybe our hospital needs some upgrading on our technology, but doesn’t need to be FOCUSED on it number one, and not better healthcare? When a question was asked about a nursing school, their response was it COULD be considered at a FUTURE date!
I attended the third public forum with the hospital. The majority were PCMH employees. They were TOLD to go to this forum, and even sent home early, with pay, so they could be there. This is just a little pushy! You go or?? There were unnecessary boo’s! Is this rude and childish?
I attended the board meeting on March 22. I heard from several that the PCMH board are scrambling to find a nursing school here! Why should they expend time on this when the offer is already on the table? Is this distracted time, helping our healthcare today?
“A” meeting was opened to the public at 6 p.m. There was a “closed door” meeting at 5 p.m. I am really not sure why the doors opened at 6 p.m. They didn’t take, under advisement, any comments or concerns. It seemed like this was just to INFORM us that there was to be a Letter of Intent to Mercy!
What percentage of Perry County (residents) want better healthcare? Local care? Want more technology? Want to drive to Festus, or St. Louis (when they shop local, or, go to Cape)? Will we need another ambulance service, so we can go to the hospital of choice? Now it is HARD to go where you want? They insist on going to PCMH, and transfer to St. Francis, even though your doctors may not go there! Where Mercy is in charge they won’t be receptive to a Cape trip!
With Mercy, the SE Health employees, and insured will no longer be accepted at PCMH/MERCH! Is that heavy pressure big city large corporation take over? Yes it is!
If the ONLY thing we need is more technology, hire and IT tech to make the NECESSARY changes?
We need better healthcare!! Call your ELECTED board members your ELECTED commissioners, send your comments to the Editor, go vote in April! Let’s be heard!
Sandy Vinson
Desperate resident
Perryville