Such facilities, which are said to cost less to operate and provide a more comfortable atmosphere and quicker recovery for patients, are all the rage in health care these days. They are so, in large part, because they make money. BUT THE suggestion that doctors are going to be making the money, not just as doctors but as owners, should raise alarm bells all over town.
Surgeons deserve to be compensated, handsomely, for their skills.
But they should not be in a position where they might even be tempted to refer patients to facilities in which they have a financial interest. Beyond that question is the issue of whether any group of local doctors should be in competition with the local community health center. Even Salina, which draws patients from many counties, cannot support two such projects. If that happens, SRHC will be denied a potentially profitable operation that could help to support its basic mission, to make our community a healthy one. SRHC IS A nonprofit, community-centered operation that is in business to do more than heal the already sick.