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I would like to express some concerns that I have. I live in New Matamoras and truly feel like Memorial Health Systems of Marietta has either forgotten about the people in this part of Washington County or just totally don't care about us and our medical needs.
The MHS is trying to move our doctor's office which will leave us without a local medical facility. There has been a medical facility in our village since 1865. We have many people here that can't drive and so they walk to the clinic.
MHS tells us in the letter sent to each client that it should not be a problem -- it's only going to be 14 miles away in St. Marys, WV. However, for the people in our village that cannot drive to get transportation very easily, it might as well be 200 miles away. I am disabled myself and I know that a person is not always able to get someone to drive you to a doctor's appointment.
Another reason I believe we are forgotten in this part of the country is that the hospital has moved entire departments of care to Belpre without any apparent concern of the impact it has on the people in this area.
For my personal experience, I have to have a shot to help my bones stay strong. I was called to set up my appointment for that shot. I was told that there was great news for me. The Strecker Center had been moved to Belpre. Well that certainly was not good news to me. I now am forced to take a 90 miles round trip just for a single shot.
And of course, all the cancer patients that are required to go for their illness are forces on the same lengthy journey as I am. I honestly believe that any cancer patient in this area doesn't feel like traveling such a distance.
I do not know what Memorial Health System is thinking, but the people in the Village of Matamoras and surrounding areas are getting a bad deal.
Everett D. LeMasters
New Matamoras