Friday, Aug. 08, 2008

Oak Valley Hospital District voters divided on Measure Q

As a former member of the Oak Valley Hospital Board of Trustees and a current member of the emergency response community, I want to point out just how important it is to vote "yes" on Measure Q and keep Oak Valley Hospital in operation. When I was a young firefighter and paramedic here in Stanislaus County in the '70s, there were 11 hospitals open for business. Today in Stanislaus County, there are only four open with one more (Kaiser) to open someday. The population has not gotten smaller since the '70s. It has grown to the point to where we are now finding ourselves waiting for much longer periods of time to be seen in an emergency room.

Oak Valley Hospital is vital to our district and must be kept. Do not let someone tell you that we do not need the hospital. In case of a heart attack, there are only a few minutes where you can be saved. Can you really afford the half-hour ride to Modesto? Can your loved ones? I think not.

Please, vote "yes" on Measure Q. Be sure to sign your ballot on the back before you send it in.

BILL HOUK

Oakdale