Hospital needs money

I purchased a copy of the “2018 Best Hospitals” by U.S. News to see where UAMS ranked. I did not find it in the top 50 hospitals. I then got on the Internet and found it as an unranked hospital. Even more alarming is the latest news. According to a recent newspaper article, UAMS will need to cut $30 million from its current budget and eliminate as many as 600 positions.

Folks, it’s where your current doctor probably attended school and chances are the one you have in the future will have attended that school. Do you want those doctors to have the opportunity to learn the skills that may save you or some member of your family’s life? Face it, UAMS is where many people go when they are very ill and do not have the money to go anyplace else.

We constantly hear what a poor state Arkansas is. Perhaps it’s more than past time that we remember some of the richest people in the world live here or have their headquarters here. Don’t tell me what they give. Instead tell me what they could give. Wal-Mart, Tyson, J.B. Hunt, Stephens and many others could say, “We are going to make UAMS one of the top hospitals in the United States. Arkansas people will benefit from having some of the top research people in the United States at UAMS. We can do that for the people who have worked so hard for us.” Combined—pennies from their pockets.

It’s past time to call your legislators and Governor Hutchinson’s office and ask them to fully fund UAMS. In addition ask for money for new research and programs that will make us a healthier state and provide us with some of the best medical care in the country. If they do not do anything to help the situation, write it down and vote for someone who will make sure UAMS is fully funded. Nothing is more important than our health. Get going!

BONNIE BARTON COOK Fayetteville