John Fischer's Philadelphia
Vol. 1 - Number 7 - 06/09/99

My father lives in Somerset County, New Jersey and I am very glad that he does. Before you start calling me all sorts of names let me explain why I say that.

A couple of weeks ago my father flunked a stress test. This really did not surprise me a lot since he is 75 this year and clearly has been having problems when he exerts himself. His doctor ordered a cardiac catheterization at the Somerset Center for Heart Care at the Somerset Medical Center in Somerville. This center features a state of the art, million dollar catheterization center. The Medical Center itself is a not-for-profit medical center with a history of significant public and corporate donations.

Following the catheterization, my father was taken to the "Johnson and Johnson" Same Day Center for recovery. Everything about this medical center is top notch. It is clean and well organized, even calm. The staff is amazingly courteous. In fact, in the catheterization center the patient is assigned a nurse who preps him/her, informs him, stays with his through the procedure into recovery. Dr. Richard Leeds, who performed the procedure was approachable and took the time to speak not only with my dad but also with me about the results, which luckily were not nearly as bad as could have been.

So what the heck does this have to do with Philadelphia you ask? If anything should this not be a story on our Northern New Jersey Guide's site. Actually, this has everything to do with the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey area. Our health systems are in shambles.

Almost every week we read stories about local medical centers or hospitals laying off more workers. In the last week we have read about the University of Pennsylvania Hospital making cuts in staffing and how Episcopal Hospital may be closed. Of course all of this follows upon the Tenet Healthcare Corp. of Santa Barbara, California's purchase of the bankrupt eastern Pennsylvania hospitals formerly owned by Allegheny Health System.

Of course, with each round of cuts, the public is assured that the quality of care will not suffer. Well, what's the name of that male cow that chases the matador around the ring? I have a good friend whose dad underwent a living hell last year at one of the former Allegheny Health System hospitals. He went for his catheterization and did not fare as well as my dad. Finally, three surgeries later, including one to rewire his sternum, where the wires had peculiarly come loose, and after a  bout with pneumonia he got to go home - alive.

So, I wonder,  if I get ill, exactly how much will the ambulance company charge to drive me to Somerville? Come on Philadelphia, this situation demands improvement.

Well, that's my perspective. Let me hear yours on this or any pertinent topic. Join me in our chat room almost every evening - Philly Chat - or drop me a note at philadelphia.guide@about.com.

If you missed any of our previous columns you can still catch them:

John Fischer's Philadelphia 05/24/99
John Fischer's Philadelphia 05/26/99
John Fischer's Philadelphia 05/28/99
John Fischer's Philadelphia 06/02/99
John Fischer's Philadelphia 06/04/99
John Fischer's Philadelphia 06/07/99