Trinity clinic deserves support

Dear editor:

Concerning the "Doctor Controversy," I would offer the following comments:

Trinity Mountain Medical Center (TMMC) is a privately owned company. As such, TMMC has the right to offer/not offer employment (contract) to any individual. TMMC is under no obligation to any one to explain/defend their reasons for personnel decisions.

As I read the Mountain Home News (MHN) it is apparent to me that Dr. Jeffrey and Dr. Baldridge were initially offered and both accepted a one year contract with TMMC. An additional one year extension was provided while contract renewal discussions were taking place. Most negotiations involve an offer/counteroffer. In that the one year extension is nearing completion I assume that a number of meetings as well as various offers were under consideration. I do not believe that the decision not to renew was the only offer put on the table. Most often, rejection of a contact offer/counteroffer involves remuneration for services.

Almost nothing to date has addressed Dr. Jeffrey's status so I assume he is satisfied with the situation.

Both Doctors were hired by TMMC due to a community effort initiated by the Elmore Medical Center (EMC) to attract primary care and speciality physicians for this area. I do not know if other clinics in Mountain Home hired new physicians based on this effort by EMC but give credit to TMMC because they did!

EMC has provided mediation between TMMC and Dr. Baldridge which was unsuccessful. EMC has also attempted to place both Doctors in other medical programs in Mountain Home. This effort has apparently also not been successful. So, if no offers exist in Mountain Home for Dr. Baldridge I would suggest that he seek employment elsewhere.

The tone and rhetoric of the various letters printed to date have all been favorable to Dr. Baldridge and negative to TMMC. I think that this response has been directly influenced by Dr. Baldridge and at this point is becoming counterproductive. I offer the following comments concerning points made by some of these letters:

To the 80 year old couple who threatened taking their medical (Dr and Hospital) requirements to Boise I would respond by saying I know of no quicker way to shorten your life expectancy than to hop on the Interstate when the green flag waves and join the "Elmore Rockets" for the commute to/from Boise. I recommend that you reconsider this option.

To the lady who gushed "wouldn't it be great if 300 to 400 people would show up for the next meeting of the hospital board." Not only is the meeting an inappropriate venue for this effort, the meeting would have to be held in the parking lot due to space requirements.

To the writer who suggests that the title D.O. as opposed to M.D. was a bias that led to the non offer of a contact please see paragraph 4 above. No bias existed at the hiring. I fail to see the logic that bias existed at any time.

I noticed that the article on the front page of the MHN (3/10/2010) concerning this issue was the only article where a reporter was not identified. I wonder why this is.

What an amazing coincidence that on the very night that Dr. Baldridge was assuming Chief of Staff functions for EMC that 30-40 of his supporters as well as the MHN was in attendance.

If by chance Dr. Baldridge hurt his knees while begging to keep his position, I can recommend any one of four very good doctors. Feel free to contact me for their names.

TMMC has been a valuable member of this community for years. The owners have put both their professional and financial future into the success of the clinic. I consider TMMC, which includes the entire staff as the premier clinic in this area and I am proud to state that it is my clinic and that my doctor is the best doctor I have ever had. I do not doubt that TMMC will remain the premier clinic after the departure of Dr. Baldridge. TMMC is worthy of continued support by the entire community.

Not withstanding my disagreement with some of the letter writers I hope we can be mutually supportive when the next hospital bond issue is presented for a vote to help pass that needed funding.

Floyd Gene Wilson, Boise