LETTER TO THE EDITOR

It will be hard for the HSA to get on its feet financially

Wednesday,  October 5, 2005

Dear Sir,

I read with interest the financial plight of the HSA. As a cardiologist working in the USA, I can tell you that the cardiology department is by far the biggest money earner to the hospitals.

I recently had a chance of seeing a young man at the Tomlinson Hospital with a two week history of shortness of breath. I had to send this patient to the US for cardiology evaluation.

In Minnesota, this patient would have generated approximately $40,000 for the hospital with a cath study, a fancy intra-cardiac zapper and a couple of ICU days. (Florida, California, New York and possibly Grand Cayman would earn more).

The point that I am trying to make is that the most common disease entity (heart disease) is mostly lost to the US hospitals. I think it will be hard for the HSA to get financially on its feet if it continues to send this type of patient to an American hospital; furthermore, it goes without saying that travelling when you are sick its not much fun for either the patient or the family. 

Furthermore if the HSA is serious about making Grand Cayman an important source for medical care and a desirable place for retirees, they must seriously think about having an adequate cardiology department.

Frank Pallares MD

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