Health Care for the Poor

A refreshing rush of clarity and peace came upon me after reading Jill Stewart’s article (Dec. 10), “Health Care for Poor--Is County Being Truthful?”

I hope her revelations about the medically indigent “working poor” will give the average citizen an insight into their plight. These characteristics deserve applause and recognition by society at large.

First, these people are among the hardest-working people in our society. People willing to pick up aluminum cans to pay medical costs should be commended for their responsibility.

Secondly, “working poor adults” are easily intimidated by the “system” because they lack adequate educational skils and have the constant fear of deportation. When health care becomes burdensome and complex, they simply stop seeking treatment, thereby causing their medical conditions to be much more advanced and costly to treat.

You may ask, “Is there any reasonable solution?” Before 1983 when the “working poor” were on the Medi-Cal rolls their health-care opportunities were better. Many of these people could easily get medical attention in their own communities. They were attended by health-care providers who spoke their language and were culturally sensitive to their socioeconomic problems. These are the key ingredients necessary for successful patient compliance with health care.

Much health care in our state is delivered by community hospitals. The transfer of the “working poor” to public institutions has caused a void in the occupancy in local community hospitals.

Within a five miles of the County Hospital there are eight to 10 community hospitals that run at only 50% occupancy rate. Many of the members of the medical staffs are minority physicians who could do a better job than the cumbersome public system that now exists.

The time has come to return the health care of the “working poor” to a more effective and efficient system--private medicine.

ROBERT A. BELTRAN MD Los Angeles