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Show 4 SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 7, 2002 Opinion VV.V. Speaking up "To avoid criticism - do nothing, say nothing, be nothing." &!&. .yy. MV.W.V.V.WA An insidious climate has invaded our area. People have become afraid to express opinions which may not be shared by the majority. Individuals are intimidated to speak out in public or write their opinions for fear of reprisal. I know this to be true since I've become reticent to write editorials for the same reasons. Reprisal can come in a number of different forms. It seems that public ridicule and rude behavior have become more the rule than the exception. Differences of opinion have not yielded good debate and compromise as they should, but rather personal attacks and hard feelings. Unfortunately, the result of all of this has been the creation of serious division in the community. Individual thought and ideas have always been the cornerstone of America. The blending of individual ideas results in the best solutions. Everyone needs the opportunity to openly voice Xheir opinion, and have some ownership in the community in which they live. Free speech is an important right for each and every individual. Our community as a whole needs to reflect on its behavior and adopt a better attitude of tolerance of different opinions. I believe that diversity does not divide-i- t multiplies, enhances and enriches the lives of those who embrace it. Response to By Ted Atherley Dr. Pandya has criticized our hospital administrator, and said d that he has an ego. He should work on his own ego rather than comment on someone elses. It could serve him well. Ifit were not for Mike Sinclair, I dont think that we would have the hospital that we have today. The old hospital was in bad shape financially and near closing. It was Mikes idea for the sales tax. Mike has one of the toughest jobs in the country being a CEO of a small rural hospital. Everyone has strong points and weak points, and I think that his strong points outweigh the weak by a large margin. He has skills that are unsurpassed by anyone in this community. Dr. Pandya said that a lot of medical care goes out of town that could be done here. He is referring to surgeries that he could do here. The fact is that people choose where they want to have their surgeries done, and not everyone wants Dr. Pandya to do them. Some people think that bigger is better and some people have had successful procedures done by other doctors and they choose to go back to them. They choose over-size- where they want to go. Dr. Pandya said that it is time for the board to step up and promote our institution. I think that he is the one who needs to do that. He has had nothing to say that has been positive. He is , A AM iO 'vr ' ' www.borrYscartoons.com down and discuss our differences of opinions 'one of these days. Thats what needs to be done. Dr. As far as the 1 sales tax being a very negative person. renewal goes, it will be on the Practice what you preach, Doc. ballot in November. There are Dr. Pandya said that we need two or three options that I think a strong utilization review de- are possible. Maybe by Novempartment to see that no unnec- ber someone will come up with a essary expenses have occurred. better idea. We do have a utilization comThe advantage of the 1 sales mittee in place. It checks for the tax is that the tourists will conproper coding of procedures and tribute about 60 of the revaudits to see if there are any enue. Our hospital has always missed or extra charges. Mis- been subsidized to some extent takes have been made both ways. and will need to be in the future. They do a very good job to see if With tax money we would like to procedures and transfers were fund some of the depreciation justified. This is strictly a medi- for capital expenditures, and we cal staff decision. Again, the would like to build a reserve board does not practice medi- fund that would take care of the cine, but we are responsible for down cycles that always seem to the quality of care at the hospi- show up in about any plan. tal. The quality control commitThere is going to be a shortage tee does a good job of advising of nurses and technicians and the board on anything that falls we need to be competitive with out of proper operating proce- our wages and benefits or they dures. will not come or stay here. There Dr. Pandya says that the are a lot of challenges ahead. We spending orgy has to stop now. I are in a bad cash flow position dont know how to answer this right now as our new doctors one because I dont think that will have a 30-6- 0 day lag in colwe have one. He has never come lections for their services. Dr. in and looked at our profit and Dadwall started working here loss statements, so I dont know on July 15 and Dr. Ott will start where he is getting his informa- on August 19. tion. Our hospital is a primary care Dr. Pandya has served our hospital and we can take care of community well over 20 years, about 85 of our communitys and I need to compliment him medical needs. We have had on that. He worked many hours many satisfied customers from in the emergency room when we all over the world as well as a lot were short of doctors. He has of them from here at home. done a good job. He has been I have been the chairman of good for the community and the the hospital board for 10 or 11 community has also been good years, and my philosophy has for him. I hope that we can sit always been for continual im- - Pandya v yir Av.' itv.m.' ifoY pin: t provement in all areas of the hospital. If we are happy to stay status quo, we will soon slip back and be in deep trouble. We need to go forward not backward. If we do not have a good hospital and good doctors we will not have positive economic development in this community. We are a lot better off today than we were 10 years ago. We will have a detailed plan for the voters before the next election. SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS AAA Deadlines AAA FRIDAY PM 1 See LETTERS, Page 5 NEWSPAPER- is published every The Southern Utah News (ISSN No. 0049-165N. Main Utah at . 26 84741 The SUN serves Kane St., Kanab, Wednesday County, Utah, and the Arizona Strip. Please address communications by mail to: 26 N. Main Street, Kanab, Utah 84741 , telephone or fax sunewskanab.net. Advertising rates available upon request. Second Class postage paid at Kanab, Utah 84741 . Newsstand price is 60c per copy. Yearly subscription rates to Kane County addresses and Fredonia and Moccasin, Arizona - $25; others - $35 (out of U.S. - $50). 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