Doctor asks for support
I have had the honor of caring for patients here in Uniontown for 40 years. Prior to that, I observed my father, Dr. Cataldo Corrado Sr. care for patients here in Fayette County. I accompanied him on house calls when I was 6 years old, and watched him take care of everything, delivering babies, just all aspects of medicine. I am probably the only one in Uniontown who is in this unique position. I have attempted to give my best as my father did and as he taught me. For the past 80 years a Corrado physician has treated patients in this county. I am now treating many of the offspring of my father’s patients. We have a very good health system in our small community. It took many years and many fine physicians (who are now memories) to build this hospital base and to bring in the many specialties that we now have.
I am directing this letter to people who need health care, and we all do, no matter what position we hold. From the front line in the emergency department of Uniontown Hospital, I have been observing an exodus of physicians from our area. They are being forced out. As Dr. Nelson recently commented, the physicians move here and make it home. Their families put down roots. And if they are not willing to pay exorbitant malpractice premiums, they cannot practice (state law) so they are forced to move their families to another state.
Everyone loses. This has begun to snowball and is moving fast.
We need for people to really take a look at this situation now and act. The young and the elderly need help. I have seen this first hand, elderly spouses taking care of each other, young families with serious illnesses doing the best they can. I see them in the emergency department. They have no transportation or means to take family members elsewhere. Most do not have the liberty to take off work for any length of time to go elsewhere for health care.
Where can we send them? What do they do now? Where do they go now? You notice I keep repeating now. This is happening now.
In March we had 21 days of no orthopedic coverage. All patients with fractures had to go to other hospitals. We can’t recruit orthopedic specialists, and we are having difficulty recruiting ear, nose and throat specialists to the area. I am appealing to the people of Fayette County to help us save our health care. We all have to have a say in the crisis here in Fayette County. We need to be heard in Harrisburg and in Washington.
Gov. Rendell says we are obsessed. When you have to tell a family that there is no care for their child, this is not obsessed – this is a health crisis that has to have an answer.
We need to get back to the practice of medicine in Fayette County, and we need to do it now.
Please help. If I have treated you, or if my father has treated you or any member of your family, would you now help us? Please call or write your legislator both state and federal and tell them you support tort reform as outlined in U.S. Senate Bill 50.
I am dedicated to keeping our physicians, nurses and all employees of the Uniontown Hospital here in Uniontown. I am dedicated to have our patients receive medical care here in Fayette County as it has been until the malpractice crisis drove out many of our good young physicians.
Dr. Cataldo Corrado Jr.
Uniontown
Trade-in for new style
Washington County needs fine-tuned like a top performance automobile. The past four years of being stalled out at the light at the corner of Main & Beau streets can become history.
I believe Washington County has a chance to move forward in “BMW” style with Burns, Maggi and Waller at the wheel. It is great to know we have the opportunity to finally trade in what I believe to be a squeaky, whiny vehicle for a new one with some style and class. I am hoping other voters can see the need for a change in the fall when most automobile manufacturers introduce the new year’s models. We could put a BMW in place to run a smooth operation at our county level.
Rebecca L. Simpson
Washington