How Regional Really Fared In Deep Over Pothole Mt’s Freeman Lauded Embracing Communism Pastor’s Role Is Clear Second Chances Bishops’ Verdict Praised…

How Regional Really Fared In Deep Over Pothole Mt's Freeman Lauded Embracing Communism Pastor's Role Is Clear Second Chances Bishops' Verdict Praised Return The Artifacts

An article in the Lancaster newspaper, Dec. 18, titled, "Check out how hospitals fared in state report," revealed how local hospitals fared in the 2012 Hospital Performance Report from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council.

First, the article stated that Lancaster Regional Medical Center had higher-than-expected death rates for the medical management of patients who had heart attacks.

Second, it stated that LRMC had the highest average charges in the central and northeastern region of the state in two categories - care of patients with abnormal heartbeats and also for the removal of gall bladders through an open incision.

Third, the article went on to state that hospital officials were not available for comment. None of these statements are true. Thank you for correcting some of this on LancasterOnline.

But readers who did not see the online version should know, first of all, that cost is the real price of health care for hospitals, not charges. There is a substantial difference between the two.

Cost is what a patient actually pays - which is never reflected in this PHC report. And LRMC's costs for the procedures mentioned are actually among the lowest in the area, not among the highest.

Why do our charges appear higher? Because hospitals obtain different payment rates for charges, set either through negotiations with private insurance companies or by the government (Medicare and Medicaid).

And you may wonder what price an uninsured patient pays for health care. LRMC generally utilizes a 65 percent discount off charges. Those uninsured patients qualifying for our indigent (charity care) program receive our services free of charge.

Second, mortality statistics are difficult to standardize for hospitals due to patients' individual risk factors, the seriousness of their conditions and (as in four of the five cases considered in this report) their wishes regarding the aggressiveness or non- aggressiveness of their treatment.

Third, we did indeed comment on this report within the requested time frame. However, due to a glitch in email communications that caused a send/receive delay in both directions, our response was not timely received.

We are proud of our physicians and associates for what they do every day to serve the health care needs of Lancaster and surrounding communities.

Bob Moore

Market Chief Executive Officer

Heart of Lancaster and Lancaster Regional medical centers

I am a single mom with a life-threatening illness. I can't get any help because I work. Due to the streets not being taken care of, I now will need to choose between my medicine or get a new tire, rim and alignment.

I hit a 4 1/2-inch-deep pothole on North Franklin Street between East Orange and East Marion streets. It was so deep that it rocked my car and damaged my tire and rim.

There are eight potholes in that same block. Someone needs to check streets. This hole just didn't happen overnight.

You try to dodge the potholes, but you're guaranteed to hit at least one of them. I talked to several people who stated they no longer travel that way due to the potholes.

Who is going to pay for my car? Oh yes, that would be me. Can't turn it into the insurance company because my rate will go up. I need my car to go to work, so I guess I'll have to pay it and skimp on my medicine, along with losing a night of work on top of the repairs.

There is no excuse for potholes that deep that can destroy tires and rims. It would be nice to be reimbursed for my ordeal of the city not taking care of our streets.

Ha! This is a joke, as is the possibility of our streets getting fixed.

Jane McBride

Lancaster

In response to staff writer Ryan Mellon's article, "Manheim Township school district superintendent resigns," Dec. 4, I believe that Manheim Township student body will miss Dr. Gene Freeman.

As a high school senior, I have been able to witness first-hand all the accomplishments that Dr. Freeman and the members of the school board have accomplished.

For example, he has helped create a brand new, state-of-the-art school for fifth and sixth graders. Also during his tenure, he has made Manheim Township High School one of the best high schools in the country and 47th in the state.

He also helped implement Online courses for high school students to take instead of traditional classes. I have heard many great remarks about this program, and this was made possible due to the hard work of Dr. Freeman.

Ajay Seelam

Manheim Township

So, President Obama shakes hands with the dictator of Cuba while attending Nelson Mandela's funeral celebration, fully knowing that he is responsible for the oppression of his own people. Fully knowing he killed his own people who opposed his rule politically. Fully knowing he unleashed a tidal wave of undesirables back in the '80s, sending people who murdered, who raped, who were mentally unfit, etc.

There is no way our president should have shaken hands with a dictator.

Make sure you write to Obama and thank him for embracing communism with that handshake and ask if he can make the United States the same way Cuba is today.

Ed Allgood

Ephrata

While we are not to judge anyone, a pastor needs to stand ground on God's Word. A pastor is a shepherd of the people God places over him. He is to deliver the message that God gives to him, as well as to live out the message. A pastor must not compromise God's Word.

Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of their practices of homosexuality, lesbianism and promiscuity.

Jesus died to forgive us all of our sins - this is the new covenant. God places pastors over people who are lost, have backslid and who are living a lifestyle that can destroy them. He is to nurture them and help them turn from what they are doing in their life. They are not to condemn, but to restore such a person.

The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 4:2, "You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you," and in Proverbs 30:5-6, "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar."

Fran Catanzaro

Mount Joy

The recent article, "Caught in the act," Dec. 17, featured Molly's Pub owner wanting to give the person who robbed his store a second chance.

The owner, Anthony Maglietta, was able to catch the suspect, Tyler Ramos, by posting the surveillance video he had of the crime on social media.

Ramos then came to Maglietta after the video was making its way around the Internet and confessed to the crime.

The remarkable part of the story is that Maglietta is willing to help the burglar in court, if he pays back Maglietta for the damages he caused.

Essentially, Maglietta is willing to give Ramos a second chance.

I admire Maglietta because he doesn't want this incident to prevent Ramos from getting future jobs and opportunities.

Maglietta also expressed that Ramos is young, and this event shouldn't define his life.

I, myself, am a firm believer in second chances, and it is good to see that local people feel the same way.

Daniel Kurtz

Manheim Township

I was happily surprised by the verdict of bishops of the United Methodist Church concerning the Rev. Frank Schaefer.

Mr. Schaefer not only went against church doctrine but, more importantly, he went against God's doctrine as set in the Scriptures.

Mr. Schaefer is similar to the rich man in Jesus' parable where he could not give up the world's riches for salvation in eternity with Jesus and the father.

In studying for the ministry, a pastor must believe in the whole Bible, including parts where God disciplines his people for turning away from his laws.

Our God loves every human being who he has created on this Earth.

Every parent loves their children and teaches them right from wrong for fear of not seeing them in eternity. All of those that sin and go against God's laws are still loved by the father above and will grant forgiveness before their earthly death and welcome them to his kingdom.

For this reason, all are welcome in churches of God's believers.

I would not want those practicing liars, thieves or any others going against God's laws leading in church teaching.

All sinners attend church to learn God's way and to change their opinion of what is right and wrong.

As Paul wrote in his letters, we are all sinners and need God's forgiveness to not perish after death on this Earth and beyond.

Robert Raffensperger

West Donegal Township

The story (Dec. 13) about the Native American artifacts, by The Scribbler, Jack Brubaker, was an eye-opener and a pierce in the heart.

Those artifacts should be returned to the American Indians. The Paxton Boys killed members of the Conestoga tribe and now the white man stole from the cemeteries and villages of their descendants, the Susquehannocks.

The Conestogas were defenseless when they were killed, their land and future taken from them.

Have mercy, Mr. Eric Conner, and return everything.

Lorraine Steele

Elizabethtown

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