I was told to open Hays Post to see yet another doctor leaving Hays Medical Center—Dr. Robert Rodriguez. Not just a doctor but an oncologist who specializes in shedding some light on those who face the dirty “c” word.
The ones who beg for mercy and hope when they have nowhere else to turn. I know because I was one of those people. I don’t know how else to express my gratitude to Dr. Rodriguez other than thank you for being on my team.
The Grove-Rodriguez team was the most down-to-earth, no-BS doctors that I could have hoped for. The surgeon and the oncologist went hand-in-hand, and they were the best.
Some patients ask their doctor, “Is this the treatment you would want if you were in my shoes?” My friend, Robert, always would say, “If you were my mother, my wife, my daughter…I would proceed this way." I believed him.
The 23 times I sat in that God-awful, most uncomfortable damn chair, I knew he always had my back. He was in my corner, lacing up my gloves. Thank you, Dr. Robert Rodriguez, for taking care of me! I have known you for six of the nine years you have been here, and I am better for it.
I would like to ask the good people of the community how do we fix this problem. We let someone come in who claims that they have the skills to run a hospital but do not listen to those who are really running the hospital (doctors, nurses, technicians, and many more).
We have lost 20 health care providers in the last year. How many more can we afford to lose? Not to mention, those who leave are banned from serving us through a nearby community. Non-compete clause? Is that a word that should even be used in health care?
This is not a retail business where goods are being sold. Lives are on the line! Shouldn’t we have more say in the health care of our community? We have public city, county and school board meetings—why not for health care (the reason we exist)?
Instead, there is a secret floor that none of the public knows about where the meetings are held in quiet. If this issue were only one or two disgruntled doctors leaving, I could understand that; however, this has been a small exodus of very important and qualified professionals in our community.
Bob Page, president and chief executive officer of the University of Kansas Health System, is the one who hired Eddie Herrman in September 2017. Since KU is no longer part of HaysMed, who does Eddie Herrman answer to now? The board? His buddies? I would very much like to know the answer to that question, as I am sure the citizens of Hays and surrounding communities would also.
I pray that those responsible for dismantling the infrastructure of our health care system are never diagnosed with a catastrophic disease where one day you need these people that you have chased away to save your life or someone in your family!
— Jodie J. Wear-Leiker