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I appreciate the effort that the Memorial Health System is exerting to provide New Matamoras with a satellite clinic at least once a week with our NP Kendal Neill traveling here. But I still must argue that her presence needs to be in this community more than that.
I want to comment on some statements that were made by MHS, which were printed in the headline article of April 18 in the Marietta Times that concerned the future of our health care clinic here.
The Village Council of Matamoras has issued a formal request for a public meeting to be attended by the CEO of MHS, Scott Cantley, and the VP of Clinic Operations, Luke Smith.
In The Times article, a significant public turnout in opposition to the closing of the clinic was questioned by the representative of the hospital.
It was also stated that the hospital claims half of the 850 individuals who are clients of the clinic are happy with the move to St. Marys.
As a retired high school history teacher of 40 years, I enjoy the old-timers' words less frequently used today. And the word that fits well here is in the phrase "that is a bunch of malarkey."
The hospital has been shown a petition of 11 pages of signatures in opposition to the closing of the clinic.
To say we are not going to participate in a public meeting because no one will show up is poor reasoning indeed. Come and see how many will show up … hopefully including WTAP and The Marietta Times.
As far as stating that one half of the clients live closer to St. Marys than New Matamoras is in effect saying that as many people live downriver from Frontier High School as upriver, since the school is midway between the two communities. That just shows the impartial observer what little thought MHS put into their plan. Only a scatter of houses are on that stretch of State Route 7 or feeder township roads.
The vast majority of the health satellite's clients are in Matamoras and the surrounding communities of Fly, Sardis, Antioch, Graysville, Rinard Mills, Brownsville, Bloomfield.
All in the far eastern part of Washington County and western Monroe County. And I know of no one who is pleased with the changes proposed.
Come and face the community, MHS.
John Miller
New Matamoras