Iowa-S. Dakota Physicians Appeal to Presidential Candidates: 'Help Defend America's Safest and Highest Quality ...( DES MOINES Iowa Dec. 6 /- A group...),Health

DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of physicians from the border area between Iowa and S. Dakota are appealing to both Democratic and Republican candidates for President to help stop the threatened shut down of America's safest and highest quality hospitals, including their own.

The appeal comes in an open letter to the candidates (below) that was prompted by threatened action by Senator Max Baucus, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. Baucus, acting on behalf of "big box" hospitals, has sought to effectively shut down physician-run hospitals despite evidence that patients receive better, safer care and are less likely to die. (Source: CMS/HHS studies 2005)

The physicians refute a number of attacks that have been made against them and other physician-run hospitals either by or on behalf of the American Hospital Association (AHA). The AHA represents "big box" hospitals that are typically run by non-physicians. The AHA has steadfastly refused to provide Congress with detailed patient outcome statistics in open hearings so that apples to apples comparisons can be made with physician-run hospitals.

Instead of focusing on issues related to patient care, outcomes and true cost comparisons, AHA administrators and their congressional surrogates have attacked the integrity of physicians who refuse to put their patients at risk in "big box" hospitals.

For more information please contact Molly Sandvig, Executive Director, Physician Hospitals of America (PHA) Office: 605-321-3483. PHA is the national organization of physician-run and owned hospitals.

LETTER SENT TO PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS IN IOWA:

Siouxland Surgery Center

600 Sioux Point Road - Dakota Dunes, South Dakota 57049

605-232-3332

Dear Presidential Candidates,

As physicians concerned with the present and future care of our patients, we would appreciate a mome
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