LETTERS: MANY FINE PHYSICIANS ARE IN CAPE

To the editor:

Recent news regarding the building of a new surgical center by local physicians has prompted a great deal of negative feedback by the community. Some comments have gone so far as to label all Cape Girardeau physicians as only in it for the money and have complained that in Cape Girardeau patients receive lower quality medical care than they would in St. Louis. I am writing not to support or condemn the proposed surgery center but to support the many fine physicians in Cape Girardeau.

To become a medical doctor, a student must excel all through grade school and commit to a long, difficult and very expensive education after high school. First, prospective doctors must attain an undergraduate college degree. Then there's medical school, internship, residency and, if specializing beyond a general internist, fellowship training for a particular specialty. When their friends celebrate high school graduation, the would-be doctors can look forward to at least another 12 years of education. If an individual accomplishes all of this, he is ready to begin a career as a practicing physician. For all of this, they are to work typically 12 hours a day, often longer, and usually six or more days a week, often on weekends and holidays. They are on call to respond to questions and emergencies all night. They must work under the constant concern of a possible lawsuit if there is ever an undesired outcome, and they must deal with strict and punitive guidelines set by Medicare.

Doctors do make a good income. But let's be realistic. Whether you go into the health-care field as a doctor or nurse, a respiratory therapist or X-ray technician, there is a united desire to help people and improve quality of life for patients. But it is a job. It is a chosen livelihood. Why would anyone choose to be a doctor if it wasn't going to provide a substantial income?

Doctors have a huge overhead to meet, paying for all of their office equipment, supplies and staff as well as paying steep student-loan debts, often in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Much of what a doctor bills is never collected to help meet these expenses. Is a doctor in it for the money? Certainly not. But be sure that if there wasn't money involved, no one would be a doctor.

St. Louis surely has excellent, highly specialized physicians and facilities, but be assured so does Cape Girardeau. My family has trusted our lives to Cape Girardeau health care, and we have been very thankful to the dedicated health-care teams here. There may be a few sour apples, but that will be found in any city.

Be careful about labeling all local physicians as rich, greedy, noncompassionate people who provide small-town standards of care. It simply is not true. The doctors who practice here choose to be in Cape Girardeau, and I and thankful for them.

LAURIE BITTLE

Cape Girardeau