Your Voice: Prescription: Bigger health center
Oct 1, 2009
EDITOR,
As a family practice physician at the Del Puerto Health Center, I’d like to offer my perspective on the City of Patterson Health Care Expansion Act.
Right now, my colleagues and I treat more than 100 patients each day in a facility that is far too small to meet the health care needs of Patterson.
We need an expanded facility that will allow us to keep up with the demand for basic medical care. As we evolve into a “patient-centered medical home,” we also need space to provide access to specialists. An expanded health center will provide primary care, pediatrics, internal medicine, cardiology, radiology, neurology, orthopedics, minor surgery and urgent care. These are medical services that a town the size of Patterson needs for the health and safety of local residents.
Too often I meet senior citizens, people with disabilities and young working families who need specialty medical care but cannot travel to Modesto or beyond to access these services. An expanded health center will provide convenient access to a variety of medical specialties as well as treadmills, echocardiograms, ultrasounds and mammograms.
The best part about the Health Care Expansion Act is that it provides the expanded health center we need without increasing taxes. The entire cost of moving to the new facility can be paid for out of existing funds, and no taxpayer money is required.
Please study the facts and join your local doctors and nurses in supporting this important initiative.
Dr. Eric Ramos, Del Puerto Health Center
