Crisis Medical Staffs Need Praise

Regarding Dick Wagner’s article on “Field Doctor” (Times, Nov. 3), the people of Long Beach are indeed fortunate to have the services of such a renowned group of orthopedic surgeons, and I enjoy any news piece that highlights local medical care.

However, I would suggest that you focus on the emergency physicians, nurses and paramedics that serve our community. These professionals are the individuals who face the daily problems of providing medical care for the indigent population, psychiatric patients and the homeless.

They take care of major trauma victims and their families, sexual assault victims and countless other emergency patients--not just the insured “weekend warrior.” In doing so they fight an ongoing battle against the failing bureaucracy of the Los Angeles County health care system to try to find appropriate placement or after-care for these patients.

The emergency personnel who care for them are the real heroes in today’s cost-cutting health-care world.

SHEILA SANNING SHEA, R.N.

Huntington Beach