Humane Society thanks Express

To the editor

I just wanted to let you know that a lady from Inlet saw Callie and Tuxedo in your paper and she came in to adopt them.  

They have been with us since January so we are all so excited—thank you for letting us feature animals in the Adirondack Express.

Emily Doucet

Rome Humane Society

An opinion on the health center plan

To the editor

I find it very sad that we are losing Dr. Tom Socash to another area and that Dr. Mark Webster is nearing his well deserved retirement. Both have provided excellent medical care to our residents and visitors for many years. They will be greatly missed.

As a paramedic with fifty years prehospital care experience with Old Forge Ambulance, past town board member of twenty years and a past Town of Webb Health Center Fund president, I would like to offer some of my concerns about the proposed takeover of the Town of Webb Health Center by St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

St. Elizabeth Hospital is an excellent medical provider and has provided excellent care to me and my family members.

I recently attended the informational meeting about the proposed takeover of the Town of Webb Health Center by St. Elizabeths Hospital and came away with the following concerns:

1. The lack of weekend medical coverage

The proposed hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday and closed on Saturday and Sunday. This is not acceptable in the June through October busy season when we have 30 to 40,000 people visit our surrounding area. People do have medical problems at times other than Monday - Fridays. The Town Board, when reviewing the proposed contract, should require that weekend hours be put in writing in the contract.

This is a proposed fifteen year contract and, as a businessman, I know that once a contract is signed, it is almost impossible to change the terms of a contract. The board should have a medical professional, who is skilled in medical contracts, review the proposed contract on the  town’s behalf, before it enters into a fifteen year contract. Any contract must be beneficial to both parties to have it work without future problems.

2. The anticipated increased call volume that will be placed on our area volunteer ambulance services due to the lack of other medical care availability

When visitors do not know where to find medical care they call 911 and an ambulance is dispatched. The ambulances are manned by volunteers and are at this time stretched to provide service for true medical emergencies. We now get calls for minor cuts, fevers, bug bites and all manner of minor medical problems that could be seen at the Health Center.

We strive to attract residents, both seasonal and year round, as well as visitors to our area. With the nearest hospitals over fifty miles away, it is important that medical treatment is available as we have had for over the last century.

This is a true quality of life issue that the Town Board has the responsibility to guarantee for our residents and visitors. This is the greatest charge that the current Town Board will  have. If done properly, with advice and counsel of medical and legal professionals, this could be an opportunity for the Town of Webb.

Dan Rivet, Jr.

Paramedic

Old Forge Ambulance

What will happen to staff benefits?

To the editor

In reading of the impending changes coming to the Health Center, I missed any mention of the fringe benefits employees of the Center will receive.

In particular, I wonder if those employees have been assured that they will receive health insurance coverage for contraception, abortion and other reproductive health issues once the Health Center becomes an organ of the Roman Catholic Church.

Tom Vawter

Old Forge

Democrats are dummies

To the editor:

All the democRATS are groaning n moaning about Romney and Bane Capital.

Shutting down companies that were going broke anyway, and restructuring the ones so they DID stay in business.

Strange how the dummy’s have forgotten the 800 Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep dealers that the Obama thugs shut down for NOT donating to their campaign. Oh well. This is the sick liberal mind at work.

Ed Widman

Old Forge