LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Thoughts on hospital finances

By Warren Dunkel, Charles City

Cathy Schafer’s  letter to the editor made some very good points about our hospital. However, we need to address why the hospital is losing money.

I have always heard that Medicaid and Title 19 being used in the ER are a horrible drain on the hospital’s funding. Perhaps the hospital board and the administrator can figure out how to use the Charles City clinic, which is now owned by the hospital, as an urgent care center.

With many doctors, PAs and nurses, there should be time for some walk-in patients. During night hours could a PA or nurse practitioner staff the emergency room?