Kay M: Living in a rural area, it is imperative that hospital care is not cut back nor denied to anyone who needs it.

I live in the Panhandle of Idaho and have been a patient in Bonner General Hospital in Sandpoint for surgery twice. The care provided by the nurses kept me aware of what was taking place and what I could expect during surgery. They were kind and knowledgeable and much appreciated since before the first surgery I had never been in that situation before. The doctor each time came to talk with me and explain what he would do and why. After my operation the doctor visited me again to see how I felt and if I had any questions. Both he and each nurse again reassured me about my condition. I also had a much more lengthy and complicated surgery in Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, WA. The doctor used the robotic DeiVinci machine. The surgery lasted several hours. Again the many nurses and the doctor were kind, answered all my many questions, and made sure I was comfortable during the entire time I was in the hospital. I spent one night there before I was released to return to my home. There were follow-up calls from my surgeon and plans for continuing care to prevent any return of the cancer that had been removed . Living in a rural area, it is imperative that hospital care is not cut back nor denied to anyone who needs it. We are fortunate to have such care now, though the State Legislature has banned most obstetric care, and we have lost many doctors to other states My ob/gyn is one of those, and all other surgeons will be gone from that clinic by the end of this month. One FNP will be there to handle general health care. Idaho has many health care problems because of political interference. Health care should never be political. Unfortunately it is now in many states, and Idaho is a prime example of this. Congress must get out of the business of regulating hospital care. We have the AMA for that. Perhaps the AMA should regulate Congress. Wouldn't the politicians love that. Bottom line: do not cut hospital care and funding. My life is threatened as well as the lives of every other person in the country. Thanks for reading this.