Letter to the editor: Aurora must keep in mind what matters

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 6, 2007

Greed. As much as Aurora Health Care is at fault for planning and building yet another unnecessary facility - and make no mistake, this will contribute to the higher-than-average health care costs for this area - significant blame also goes to the physician/shareholders of Advanced Healthcare who figuratively sold their souls in voting to join Aurora for the fast buck ("Aurora plans Grafton hospital," Aug. 1).

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when physicians practiced medicine to care for people, and many still do! But in spite of the fancy philosophies spouted by the organizations involved in this latest local health care proposal, it comes down to greed. Aurora apparently has set its goals on owning the southeastern Wisconsin health care marketplace, no matter the cost, not just on providing valuable and exceptional health care.

We in southeastern Wisconsin are fortunate to have some of the best health care in the country. This did not come about by a poorly planned evolution but by the leaders in the field who were and are, for the most part, motivated by the primary concern for others.

Let's not go too far down the road of self-interest and lose what has made not only our health care but our culture what it has been. Let's keep our "eye on the prize" - each other!

Richard J. Miller Jr.
Mequon