Socialized Medicine Destroys Care
The commentary by Mark A. Chmielinski, RRT, [“Health Care Crisis”] in your October 2001 edition was chilling. The fact that any American would advocate socialized medicine is disturbing. Although we have succeeded in putting many of the restrictions and controls of socialized medicine in place in our country, thus far we have at least not completely collectivized the system—thanks to strong resistance from the political right. It is just these restrictions and controls that have fomented the crises Mr Chmielinski writes about. If we go to a totally government-controlled system, we will destroy what little is left of what was once the best health care system in the world.

Look at Canada. Look at Russia. Look at any jurisdiction where the opportunity to profit and gain is removed from our industry. You will see the utter destruction of achievement, advancement of technology, and quality of service.

Health care is a service provided for a fee, just like cutting hair or repairing automobiles. It is not a universal “right.” Care of the indigent should be left where it belongs, in the hands of churches, charities, and other philanthropic organizations.

Take one look at what Medicare and Medicaid has become and you will see that socializing health insurance for all will quickly socialize the entire industry. In short order, doctors and nurses will become employees of the state, and our little segment of the health care industry—we humble crutch, cane, wheelchair, and oxygen vendors—will cease to exist.

Greg Grambor
CEO, Tampa Medical Supply Inc
Tampa, Fla

Lucky Mistake
I am currently putting together the final pieces of a puzzle that, when finished, will be my start-up respiratory therapy home care company. I have worked hard to locate information on the industry during this lengthy process with very little success. My luck changed when I found a copy of one of your magazines mistakenly placed on my desk at work. I read it from cover to cover twice. It was full of great stories, great information, and great advice. I would like to thank you and your staff for the fine work you put into producing such a great publication. You have helped me a great deal.

Dillon Smith
Los Angeles

Laws Can’t Prevent Carelessness
I read “Surviving Political Fallout” [an article on a fatal medical gas accident] in the October issue with considerable interest since it summarizes a problem that is more widespread than most people in the industry realize. Unfortunately, accidents of this kind result in fatalities that could be 100% preventable with adequate training of service and delivery personnel.

Color coding is only one indication of the identity of gas in a high-pressure cylinder or liquid dewar and must never be used as the only identification of a medical gas. Gas-specific connections, designed to prevent the inadvertent attachment of downstream equipment to valves on high-pressure cylinders or liquid vessels, are also only an indicator and must never be changed to make connections fit. The drug label, which identifies the gas in the container, must be carefully inspected before any cylinder or dewar is attached to a delivery system. If there is any doubt about the content of a vessel, it must never be used and must be returned to the supplier.

Distributors have an obligation to make certain that their delivery and service personnel receive frequent and adequate training on proper handling of medical gases, including labeling, connections, and the hazards that accompany a decision to force or change connections on a container.

The State of Ohio SB 117 is intended to safeguard against future such tragedies. However, unless dealers and distributors of medical gases take the initiative to properly train their personnel, similar accidents will continue to occur. Laws cannot prevent poor judgement or carelessness.

Robert C. Rakers
Vice President, Erie Medical
Pleasant Prairie, Wis

Please send letters to Editor, Home Health Care Dealer/Provider, 6701 Center Drive West, Suite 450, Los Angeles, CA 90045, or email llindahl@medpubs.com.