WHATS WRONG WITH VALLEY HOSPITALS?
Disturbing news was just reported earlier this evening about an auto wreck in the Pharr area that involved 2 teens with an elderly woman with infants. As if that wasn't disturbing news enough, one of the infants was severly injured from what seems to have been head trauma according to a statement a family relative stated during the report on the evening news. This poor child had to be airlifted to a Hospital in Corpus Christie or San Antonio.
HERES MY GRIPE:
We have about a hundred HOSPITALS just in Edinburg and McAllen alone. We have a womans, children, heart, co-ed, surgical, cancer center, etc, WHY CAN'T WE HAVE A SEVERE TRAUMA TREATMENT FACILITY HERE IN OUR VERY OWN BACKYARD? WE probably have just as much Auto accidents as Corpus does, so with all these hospitals not one can treat major trauma situations? THAT IS JUST PLAIN B.S., our area is close to 60% Government Subsidized which means Uncle Sam is footing most medical bills here in our very own Valley. Uncle Sam pays on time and well, Some of these doctors are getting spoiled not having to adhere to Hospital MBAs Management Style and rather opting to Incorporate with other Docs and well govern themselves picking and choosing what type of patients and services they wish to administer.
Our Very own Edinburg Hospital Doesn't treat Pregnant women, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? In an area increasing in population as rapidly as we are, our very own pregnant women if transported in an emergency must have to be transported to McAllen. Maybe that new Women's Hospital is dedicated to such services, but my friend's wife just got transported all the way to Mission 2 weeks ago. Both McAllen Hospitals Emergency rooms were packed, Go Figure. The Medical Field here in the Valley is on a rampant growth, so that being said, its just sad that an Infant near death has to be airlifted in such a critical period to some medical facility out of our very own area. SAD SAD SAD, Our Prayers go out to the Family of this Child and wish him GODSPEED. And well to anyone having to be airlifted to cities such as Corpus, San Antonio, or Further, We hope one day our area will have the proper facilities and personnel to accomodate such tragedies.
Heres my take on the whole situation:
I don't think its the facilities that are lacking in our area, it's the RIGHT PEOPLE for the JOB that is lacking. Now, now, now, I'm not throwing stones here nor am I trying to insinuate that our Medical Professionals lack the proper training, IT IS JUST THAT THE VERY BEST (ie SURGEONS) ARE FEW AND THEY CHOOSE TO LIVE IN AREAS LIKE SAN ANTONIO, HOUSTON, DALLAS, or AUSTIN as opposed to The VALLEY. Now do the aforementioned cities offer a more luxurious lifestyle or community? Well Ask a sought after Surgeon. What are our Hospitals doing to RECRUIT the VERY BEST? OBVIOUSLY history has dictated to us, we're yet to lure the BEST and Until then our victims here in the Valley will just have to be airlifted to cities that these Medical Assets to there communities call home.
HERES MY GRIPE:
We have about a hundred HOSPITALS just in Edinburg and McAllen alone. We have a womans, children, heart, co-ed, surgical, cancer center, etc, WHY CAN'T WE HAVE A SEVERE TRAUMA TREATMENT FACILITY HERE IN OUR VERY OWN BACKYARD? WE probably have just as much Auto accidents as Corpus does, so with all these hospitals not one can treat major trauma situations? THAT IS JUST PLAIN B.S., our area is close to 60% Government Subsidized which means Uncle Sam is footing most medical bills here in our very own Valley. Uncle Sam pays on time and well, Some of these doctors are getting spoiled not having to adhere to Hospital MBAs Management Style and rather opting to Incorporate with other Docs and well govern themselves picking and choosing what type of patients and services they wish to administer.
Our Very own Edinburg Hospital Doesn't treat Pregnant women, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? In an area increasing in population as rapidly as we are, our very own pregnant women if transported in an emergency must have to be transported to McAllen. Maybe that new Women's Hospital is dedicated to such services, but my friend's wife just got transported all the way to Mission 2 weeks ago. Both McAllen Hospitals Emergency rooms were packed, Go Figure. The Medical Field here in the Valley is on a rampant growth, so that being said, its just sad that an Infant near death has to be airlifted in such a critical period to some medical facility out of our very own area. SAD SAD SAD, Our Prayers go out to the Family of this Child and wish him GODSPEED. And well to anyone having to be airlifted to cities such as Corpus, San Antonio, or Further, We hope one day our area will have the proper facilities and personnel to accomodate such tragedies.
Heres my take on the whole situation:
I don't think its the facilities that are lacking in our area, it's the RIGHT PEOPLE for the JOB that is lacking. Now, now, now, I'm not throwing stones here nor am I trying to insinuate that our Medical Professionals lack the proper training, IT IS JUST THAT THE VERY BEST (ie SURGEONS) ARE FEW AND THEY CHOOSE TO LIVE IN AREAS LIKE SAN ANTONIO, HOUSTON, DALLAS, or AUSTIN as opposed to The VALLEY. Now do the aforementioned cities offer a more luxurious lifestyle or community? Well Ask a sought after Surgeon. What are our Hospitals doing to RECRUIT the VERY BEST? OBVIOUSLY history has dictated to us, we're yet to lure the BEST and Until then our victims here in the Valley will just have to be airlifted to cities that these Medical Assets to there communities call home.
posted by THE POLITICAL RING | 10:01 PM
7 Comments:
I think the short answer is money, but there are a lot of other factors.
The major truama centers in Texas have always had "University" tied to their name, and therefore more money to treat emergency care. Emergency medicine is not the most lucrative area of practice for either the physician or the hospital because of the high level of uninsured treatment that must be given. (no not just to undocumented workers) With a tie to a medical school like UTMB Galveston, or the Houston, Dallas and San Antonio Hospitals (SA also have the Military Hospital funding) , there is both additional funding and pool of doctors and interns. Of Course Driscoll Hospital in Corpus is there because of the foundation. Most hospitals are corporate now, so without the extra funding from the school or other foundations, they have to maximize profits. It is a tough situation because most of us believe that quality (and affordable) medical care is a right. The problem is, it is also a commodity.
The Valley has come a long way in the last 15 years with regard to available health care and health care services. We have an increase in hospitals, both doctor owned and branches such as Driscoll. We have hospitals with advance emergency care designation and specialty hospitals. (of course we don't have a VA hospital-but we'll see what the election year brings).
One of the hazards of specialty and specialty centers, which are normally built for profit, is they tend to syphon from the hospitals the creme of the paying particular specialty leaving the hospitals to deal with the low or no pay, emergency high risk patients. The Edinburg Hospitals closure of the maternity ward that you mentioned is a prime example. My son was born at the Edinburg Hospital. It was a magnificent unit with wonderful staff and nursing and excellent facilities, but when the doctors opened a birthing center, which took private pay and private insurance (which usually pays much much better than government coverage) the hospital was left with the low and no pay, not to mention the high risk and drop-ins. So they closed.
I think the regulators and the lobbyist are still trying to figure out how to equalize the requirements between the doctor owned hospitals and the corporate and other hospitals.
Another matter is it is difficult to attract physicians because after all that money and time they spend in training, most are looking at the larger urban areas for "quality of life" issues. (loving the Valley as I do, I think they are wrong) But the fact remains, the young professionals seek other qualities for where they want to live, both monetarily and socially).
I won't leave out the doctor's battle cry of tort reform. But because I feel it was overkill, and other reasons, I mention it only out of respect for practioners as they do provide a wonderful service.
Some of it also has to due with the lack of concern that our area plays to State and Federal Government. The most active issue in the blogs is the VA hospital. As with the Valley's attempt to attract a medical school, we are deemed only worthy of partial help such as the RAC and the VA clinics, short of the need for a true VA Hospital or a full medical school. (We are a blue pond in a red sea).
We also can't leave out our own Valley City-State mentality. The rest or most others think of us as a region (the Rio Grande Valley) which in some minds stretches from Brownville to Laredo, while the end fighting between the Counties and the various cities tears us apart when something is proposed such as the RAC, the Rio Grande Health Care District and coming soon probably who gets the VA. You have already seen the not so covert signs that VBMC is jockeying for the position.
Well they A People Reflect Leadership. At one point in history, I believed that the highest peak in a community reflected just what in fact the community was all about. Take for example the city of Edinburg, back in the early 50s-80s Church buildings on Cano had some of the highest peaks, not to mention the old folk towers, and courthouse so this community gave the impression of judicial, religious, and retiree area. Now County government is situated on Cano and ranks as one of the highest buildings and is one of the largest employers in Edinburg Second to the UTPA. So my theory then and now still makes some type of sense. In McAllen, Commerce Commerce Commerce, those two banks tower over everything and they are a symbol of what that city is all about.
Now in regards to our Country, the tallest peak is never a physical building, but in fact the highest position in our country is the Presidency. Now look towards that President reflecting what our country is about at there particular time in Office. Who's making the money while that President serves? I will attemp to give a brief synopsis about what I mean and then well you can research my take on it:
Ronald Reagan era- WEAPONS MANUFACTURES MADE ALL A GREAT DEAL OF PROFIT, REAGAN'S STAR WARS PROGRAM IS CREDITED FOR THAT.
George H.W.Bush era- you guessed it OIL, OIL, OIL and well the man comes from an OIL INDUSTRY BACKGROUND, who knew? KUWAIT even got Bush's Help from Saddam. SOME OF THE BIGGEST OIL COMPANIES MERGED THAT ERA TO FORM MEGA BILLION DOLLAR CONGLOMERATES.
Bill Clinton era- was all about HEALTHCARE INSURANCE, that whole PPO vs HMO headlines tore up some middle class families' impression of there on the job insurance and just what it covered. HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES MADE A GREAT DEAL OF PROFITS UNDER CLINTON
George W.Bush era- WELL DEJA VU, guess who's back at making BIG PROFITS? OL as some rednecks call it. OIL COMPANIES SUCH AS EXXONMOBILE AND SHELL HAVE RECORDED SOME OF THE RECORD HIGH EARNINGS BREAKING ASTOUNDING RECORDS UNDER THE 2nd BUSH ERA. We are at War AGAIN making WAR profiteers a great deal of money too. Bush is still following the blueprints of the Reagan/Bush doctrine, WEAPONS and OIL make a great combination. V.P. Cheney first ever VP who had the power to have his very own HALIBURTON make a great deal of profits.
Which brings me to my conclusion:
Clinton's Victory in '08 will have who making BILLIONS? What issues do you think are gonna making the HEADLINES yet once again? YEP, you guessed it, HEALTHCARE INSURANCE and THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY, and this ties into what dac and I have just mentioned about an incident that occured yesterday with an auto wreck having a child get airlifted to another facility due to Valey Hospitals not being equiped with the proper personnel or facility to accomodate such tragedies.
Again, am I saying Clinton wins in '08? NO, but in regards to the polls, Clinton is the Candidate to beat both in raising money and in votes. My advice to Clinton and Obama, make a ticket. Clinton/Obama might prove to be marketable with the voters. Now the reason I mentioned Hillary winning is because we might face yet another deja vu as in with the Bush father and Son duo. Well thats MY TAKE ON IT. The best of Luck to all the Candidates, ANY PREDICTIONS ARE WELCOMED ON THIS BLOG ON National, State, County and Local political races.
Heres my prediction: And I am not speaking on behalf of everyone here at the Political Ring:
I feel its going to boil down to
Democrats
Clinton
Obama
Edwards
wining the nomination: Clinton
why: It's the decade of the woman, women outnumber us men 4 to 1, its there time. 2 Presidents for the price of one. Bill is a political superstar and He is rubbing off on Hillary. Obama is a political superstar as well, it's just I don't feel its his time, Look for this Candidate to serve on an Administration, maybe as an Attorney General or Ambassador to the UN. We are going to see alot of Obama in the future. He's a very likeable charming Candidate
Republicans
Romney
Huckabee
Thompson
Wining the Nomination: Huckabee or Romney. Huckabee is actually a politician from Arkansas just like Bill, oh and guess what city he's from? You guessed it, Hope,Arkansas just like Bill. WOW! Who would of guessed it, something in the water there I guess. Romney may have trouble with the whole Mormon Religion with the Cristian Right Wing and the Bible Belt that the Conservative Republicans depend so much on. Fred Thompson may seem to have trouble with having a wife extremely young to be fit for first lady, again I personally don't have a problem with that, its just the party that nominates them "Conservative Christian so called Republicans may have a problem with it"
My Prediction:
Clinton vs Huckabee
Clinton in '08 Madam President to serve One Term. Republicans at this point are just Re-grouping and will come out guns blazing in 2011. They know they don't have a winner in this race.
got one more thing to add to the above statement, I'm reading up more on Republican Presidential Candidate Ron Paul (Dr.Ron Paul to be exact) he's got an awesome voting record. This is a candidate with no bull, but then again I guess politics today isnt about one's voting record, but rather as to how much endorsement money you make as a candidate. Either way, Ron Paul looks to be a viable candidate.
Viable in meaning he could succeed in getting the nomination or that he is capable of doing the job if the other Rebublican candidates did not exist?
I mean Ron Paul has a great deal of Liberterian Ideology, but I think the Bible Belt may like his style. Mitt Romney's Mormon Religeon plagues him with the christian right and well Guliani has been married 3 times, again, I have no problem with that, but the whole Christian Conservatives dwell on that kinda stuff. Republicans gotta give some thought to the bible belt and the Goold Ol Boys in Mississippi and Texas. They prefer Conservative Christian Right wingers and the Republican doesnt have much to offer as candidates for president. I thinks its Hillary's race to lose. If Obama takes the VP spot, it'll make one hell of a ticket. Bill Richardson has some ties with Bill Clinton, so he might be another choice. Edwards has expressed he would not accept a VP role. So Its Hillary and well we'll just have to wait and see.
Well now they have Fred, everthing the Far Right could want with a trophy wife to boot. If Mitt or Rudy take the nomination, you can bet they will either choose the Baptist Minister or other to appease the ulta conservative wasps in the crowd so they so they can fan the fear.
Fred Thompson will have trouble trying to appeal to those disenchanted with Bush, and distancing himself from Bush will prove to be rather difficult. The Majority of people want our troops out of Iraq already according to most polls taken, but the Repubs still want to linger there. Thompson will have a difficult time selling his agenda on the Iraqi Occupation. Its an OCCUPATION people!! People still keep using the word WAR, and Bush keeps labeling himself a WAR PRESIDENT. NOW THAT LABEL IS AS STUPID AS CALLING OSAMA COMPASSIONATE TOWARDS AMERICANS. Hillary is the candidate to beat. Repubs dont care for the next election, right about now they're congregating over at the Reagan compound in California or in San Francisco's Bohemian Grove discussing possible candidates for 2011 and what country is next to go to war with. OUR System is an ever evolving 2 party system, Republicans represent Corporate America while Democrats represent the Human Resources, they have to balance out in order to bring some type of Democracy. Surplus and Deficits, now just ask yourself which candidate represents which. Clinton-Surplus/Both Bushs and Reagan-A Cagillion Dollar Deficit. The Good news for the Democrats is that Hillary is already choosing the curtains for the White House, but the bad news is that She'll be a ONE TERM President. Thats all the Repubs need to Gauge the American people on the dangers of having some woman go to war with countries such as Iran or other extremist radical terrorists. Now do you and I believe that, FAT CHANCE, but Most CAUTIOUS CONSERVATIVE AMERICANS EAT THAT CRAP UP like its the GOSPEL. This Administration has put so much fear in its citizens that GUN MAKERS raked in billions in profits just during this President's two terms. Not to mention our VP is so paranoid, he went off and shot a buddy of his just next to him, now that should give you an inclination as to how paranoid Americans have become. And the sad truth is that we as a people have dealt with these BS lies since we were kids in order to keep us in line:
1. we had the llorona to get us to go to sleep.
2. we had the CUKUO or CUKUI in the closet or under the bed to keep us settled down.
3. we had la mano pachona, to scare the crap outta of us.
4. we had santa claus to make us behave for materialistic reasons.
5. we had the tooth fairy to give us money as compensation for the pain of losing a tooth.
6. we had a bunny rabbit laying eggs for easter, COULD never figure that one out.
7. and now we have some CUKUI somewhere in the Middle East, with a MANO PACHONA, acking as the LLORONA to Americans and acting like a Santa Clause towards his Al Qaeda people and those who pain in losing loved ones, Osama acts like the tooth fairy compensating them for there loss.
So the bottom line, are we still dealing with reality here? I made some joking comparisons, but how much of the truth do we really know? These are some confusing times, and its easy to shed some humor on such things that are shoved down our throats on a daily basis. NOW is WAR humorous? GOD NO, but the media's take on such events and government have to derive from some type of fiction at times.
My heart goes out to those whom have lost there lives and those who continue to serve.
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