Letters to the Editor

This letter is in response to a letter submitted by Valerie B. Waid concerning respect for the nurses at Meadville Medical Center.

I was admitted to the fourth floor of the medical center Monday, Nov. 11, early morning. I was greeted with a pleasant room looking inviting. The nurses were waiting for me and started my care immediately. This is the way I was treated the three days of my stay.

I wasn't allowed to eat or drink, but I learned I could have ice chips. Not one time was I refused. My back was bathed-yes it's true. Respiratory people-the two young college men are learning as they go. Each and every one of those who were part of my care earned my respect. They each took a minute or two to help quiet my pain and fears.

After I was home a few days, I received a special well-wishing note from "the fourth floor", listing their names.

My thanks to all who cared for me, including Dr. Carr. He was very special and respectful to this 85-year-old former patient.

-Mary Ann Weifenbach, Conneaut Lake
Appeared in the Meadville Tribune Thursday, December 12, 2019

Invest in youth; also create drug court
The reported conversation at Wednesday's City Council meeting was disappointing. Complaining how constituents use public space is unproductive.

Councilman Jim Roha noted,:"Unfortunately, you can't legislate considerate, polite behavior." However, there are evidence-based programs that could be implemented to promote positive safety, health, economic and social outcomes for our community. There are also systemic processes observed to reinforce these behaviors.

The City of Meadville and Crawford County government funds and approves projects deepening the institutions creating myriad negative outcomes and then laments the consequences. They ought to explore avenues proven to generate positive outcomes.

Here are two suggestions for contemplation. If you agree, please reach out and let's talk. If you seek behavioral changes in public and private spaces countywide, create and fund accessible, safe, clean and sober spaces for youth. Also, create a drug court focusing on restorative justice and rehabilitation.

If you want community members' behaviors to improve, you need to model these behaviors. During adolescence, the mind, body and spirit are growing rapidly. We develop our children's mind for 8 hours a day and leave them to their own devices the other 16 hours of the day.

It's common knowledge it takes a village to raise a child and as we've moved from this model civility has declined. We need to wrap up our youth in positive growth oportunities and help them grow into happy, healthy, considerate and polite community members. We need to invest in our youth.

Secondly, we've wasted millions of tax dollars over the last decade on penal institution infrastructure. Crawford County's jail population has exploded over the last five years, nearly doubling. Many of those incarcerated are there as a result of struggling with a chronic and progressive physical, mental and spiritual malady. We take these sick people, isolate them from healthy influences, magnify their character defects and neglect treatment of the reason they're incarcerated.

Our public servants are wasting time complaining annually about problems they are exacerbating with our money. If we want to see a change, we must invest wisely in ourselves to promote positive outcomes.

- John Hartnett, Meadville
Editor's note:President of Not One More NW PA
Appeared in the Meadville Tribune Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Thanks to MMC for help during stay
In the mid-afternoon on November 25, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, I had occasion to be admitted to Meadville Medical Center via the emergency room. The reason for my admission is not the point of this letter. Suffice it to say I needed to be there.

What is important is the people there who took care of me. In the emergency room I was attended by nurses Dana Oster and Missy Wickert, Dr. Dan Bridger and Dexter Witchey, PA. Upon being moved to second floor north, I was attended by Dr. James Eppelbaum and Dr. Ann McCray and nurses Michelle Rubaker, Hannah ( I apologize, I didn't get her last name), Gina Amato and several others whose names I did not get.

What I am writing to say is that MMC should be extremely proud to have all of these people on staff. To a person, they are the best. Kind, compassionate, friendly, professional, capable and efficient are all words that apply to them.

Everything being done was fully explained to me, and my questions were answered in detail in words I could understand. At times I wondered that they took so much time with me when they were otherwise so busy.

To all of these terrific people, as well as those whose names i regrettably do not have, you have my heartfelt thanks.

- Richard Hild
Appeared in the Meadville Tribune, Friday, December 15, 2017

Meadville Area Free Clinic Needs Your Help

As the 20th anniversary approaches, the future for the free clinic is uncertain due to declining funding. The need for the service has remained the same, not declining as some had predicted with the advent of the Affordable Care Act in recent years.

Donations and medical volunteers are desperately needed to keep this critical community resource viable. If you could help, contact the Meadville Area Free Clinic at 814.337.7166.

- Duane Koller, Meadville Medical Center
The full article appeared in the Health and Science Section of the Meadville Tribune, Tuesday, May 16, 2017

MMC has a Great Team

A patient who was admitted through the ED with chest pains stated, "I spent a week with you people and I just want to say thank you. The ED staff was phenomenal! I had two staff members named Bill who were great (William Schaffner and William Hovis). Samantha Prevost, Michelle Rubaker and Sara Porter on the 2nd floor were so pleasant. Maria Onion was a breath of sunshine. I just want to give everyone kudos. This visit was so different than my last one three years ago. I also want your staff to know I have not had a smoke since I got home and I'm not going to! I just can't thank you enough." He also stated he wanted to mention Dan Bailey from the kitchen and Kendra Stewart, the housekeeper, who were both wonderful. Continuing, he said, "You guys have a great team there!"

- Anonymous Patient of MMC
This appeared in Volume 2, Issue XV of the MMC WOW News Bulletin
Friday, May 19, 2017