COM 0376.011 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Doctors are small businessmen and women who already have a hard time making ends meet in Hawaii. As a recent Chief of Staff at Hilo Medical Center, I can ask two other respected doctors who served in that position explain how their practices are barely profitable. One of these critically needed specialists is closing his medical practice this month. My own primary care physician shared with me that he had already declared bankruptcy twice and finally decided it was better to retire than lose money practicing medicine in Hawaii. If the Council disregards the recommendations of the Planning Director and Planning Commission Council and opposes the rezoning of the existing parking lot, then I will be forced to recommend that the Community Surgery Center build a large highly expensive parking structure on our current parking lot to meet the needs of East Hawaii patients. Access to medical care will actually become much worse for many months during construction. Many hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars, that could have been spent on new surgical technology, digital mammography and newer imaging equipment and additional medical staff, will instead be spend on concrete for an elevated ramp which will tower over the neighborhood. In effect, a huge tax will be placed on the health care providers at the Surgery Center. The costs will inevitably have to be passed on the patients, or additional providers will go out of business, retire early or leave the Big Island. More unfortunately, the lack of access to mammography, cervical cancer screening with OB-GYN providers, etc, will take it's toll in higher mortality for patients in East Hawaii. I look forward to discussing these issues with you in person, and beginning a community dialogue with our patients and neighbors in East Hawaii. Thank you for considering this additional information. Sincerely, Scott Grosskreutz, M.D. President Punahele Professional Building Association