Hospitals are the linchpin for health care. Health care and education are the base of the economy in most cities.
A recent story in the Wichita Eagle compared the economies of Wichita and Oklahoma City. Health care and education were responsible for about 20 percent of the economy in both cities. Manufacturing, commercial businesses, retail and the full range of services, including government and military, make up the other 80 percent.
How can we question that our town’s economic life-blood is dependent even more on health care and education? We don’t have the industrial, commercial or retail base of those two large cities. As much as we may have a dislike for the newly imposed sales tax, it provides protection for our schools and health care; two local economic engines that need all of the protection we can muster.
We have to build a new hospital to get Iola back on the health-care map. If we don’t get a new hospital our local economy is headed down. There are two choices available; our economic future is either up or down.
Our county commission wisely began the exploration for hospital development with a citizens committee. It appears this wisdom will carry forward and the commission will listen to the committee and use its input for a final decision.
But sometimes wisdom doesn’t rise to the surface, probably because extraneous issues direct the thought process. One example is evident in current budget discussions. In a quote from this past Sunday’s Wichita Eagle, the Sedgwick County manager said, “A budget is never about money, it’s about priorities.”
Last Thursday’s Register said a county commissioner tied the ambulance issue to the hospital discussion and suggested that one impacted on the other.
Money was the connection, even though they are different issues and differing priorities.
Word association is the likely culprit. If you say “ambulance” a common association is “hospital.” On the other hand if you say “hospital” the more likely association will be “doctor.”
We will be better served if county commissioners stay on track with the hospital as a priority. If they want to get all wound up on ambulances, hold that off until later. It isn’t a priority. Keep it out of the hospital priority. It’s quite likely that most public connection between ambulances and hospitals originates from commissioners’ statements, while the public in general will have other priorities on their minds.
Ray Shannon,
Iola, Kan.
(Editor’s note: This letter by Mr. Shannon was written previous to Wednesday’s Register that announced the county commission’s decision to drop the ambulance debate for the time being.)
