Find a way to keep doctors

Dear editor:

Dr. Scott Baldridge is an excellent physician. He has been my doctor for approximately one year.

I have read last week's letters to the editor and have spoken to quite a few of Dr. Baldridge's patients and friends.

Everyone agrees, he is a terrific doctor and a good man. In other words, he is a great asset to this community.

It is my understanding that there is a dispute concerning the renewal to his contract, which is due up in July. I am not sure who is responsible for this decision, whether it's the Trinity Mountain Clinic or the Elmore County hospital, or both. But I can tell whoever it is they are making a huge mistake by not renewing this great doctor's contract as soon as possible.

It's been said before, we are a small community and it's not easy to attract quality physicians to a rural area. What I do know is that Dr. Baldridge is extremely well liked and I expect that if he can't get work here and has to move to Boise, there is going to be a large group of people who will drive to Boise to continue their care with him. That means thousands of dollars of lost revenue to the clinic, to the hospital, to the community. Our small businesses can't afford this.

I highly suspect the Trinity Clinic and Elmore County hospital cannot afford it either. In other words this decision is going to affect everyone, whether you're a patient or not. I have written letters to the Trinity Mountain Clinic manager; Brian Peace, and the Elmore County hospital administrator; Greg Maurer, voicing my concerns.

I urge your readers who are as concerned as I am, please write your letter to the editor in our newspaper. Our local newspaper reaches thousands of households.

Next, write letters to the Trinity Mountain Clinic manager, and to the administrator at the Elmore County hospital.

I truly hope with a strong community support, that in the near future we will be able to hear Dr. Scott Baldridge will be staying around here for a long, long time.

Madeline Kahn