The Demonization Of Profits

As the decision looms closer as to which hospital is going to receive the state's blessing to operate in Madison, the debate is no longer which will provide better, cheaper care for patients. The issue is money.

Specifically, PROFIT: Who's making it, and who isn't. One of the hospitals, Huntsville, is non-profit. The other, Crestwood, isn't.

A recent letter to the editor in The Huntsville Times shows the absolute disgust of profits held by many in this country.

'Not-for-profit hospitals across America exist to provide the best health care possible for their patients. Conversely, for-profit hospitals (like Crestwood) exist primarily to provide profits for owners and stockholders.'

Get it? One hospital is out there to help everyone and save the world, doing everything it possibly can (and then some) for anyone who is in their care. The other hospital? It must exist only to satisfy the greed of anyone who owns a share in it.

For the sake of argument, let's assume that's true. Just how would a 'for-profit' hospital manage to provide profits for the owners and stockholders? Would they do it by stealing? Would they force people to use their hospital and then bleed them dry (bad pun, sorry) for every last nickel?
Of course not. They'd have to work to earn your business and work even harder to keep it. That means service. That service includes having the best doctors, surgeons and nurses. If you knew a certain hospital had sub-par service would your risk YOUR health or your family's health there or go elsewhere?

The same writer continued:

'The profits generated by for-profit hospitals are divided among owners, corporate executives and shareholders, who generally consider providing unprofitable services to be contrary to their best interests.'

This means if you invest your money into a hospital that turns a profit, you are not only greedy and selfish, you're also cold hearted. (Note the sarcasm.)

It's easy to demonize anybody making a dollar off someone's misfortune, especially when they aren't there in front of you to take the criticism. But thank God someone IS going to make money off someone's misfortune!

I'd hate to have to rely only on a doctor's conscious and heart to give me the best care possible. Instead, I hope the doctor has 3 beach homes along the Florida coast and plans on playing at Pebble Beach next weekend.