I’d like to add my voice to the outpouring of support for Dr. Schmitt, and to the chorus of concern for the hospital’s ongoing and worsening problem with public trust within the local community. I had hoped to attend the recent meeting to speak in person, but that’s not the way the evening went for me.
Megg Heath’s comments as reported in the paper reflect my concerns perfectly; whatever the real reasons for Dr. Schmitt’s firing, the hospital’s actions and lack of communication continue to erode the trust the community wants to place in our medical institutions. We fear that the people making decisions for the hospital don’t value our community, and until the hospital can earn back people’s trust, Durango will continue to provide more care.
I don’t want that, and by the way, neither do my patients, several of whom have voiced sorrow over her loss, and the loss of other medical providers over these last months and years.
Aaron Montano, psychiatrist
Cortez
