Decision on Birchansky an unfair ruling

Regarding the March 6 article, “Seeing things differently”: I am an optometrist who has a referral relationship with Dr. Lee Birchansky.

The article made one to think that he is doing surgeries out in his parking lot, citing sterility concerns. If the board is going to accuse him of not performing sterile surgery, it had better provide proof. Have there been complaints or evidence? The ruling seems quite draconian for a situation that seems as nothing more than the hospitals wanting their facility fees and stymieing the competition.

I have had many patients wanting surgery with Dr. Birchansky at his surgical center, because surgery at a hospital was going to cost them an extra few thousand dollars for the facility fee.

The Iowa Department of Public Health's policies seems antiquated in today's modern medical and surgical delivery capabilities. Cataract surgery is one of the most common and safest among all surgical procedures. Other surgical procedures (cosmetic, dental, LASIK, etc.) have been conducted “in-office” for years.

This is an unfair ruling that hurts free market competition, reduces access to surgical care, and increases cost to patients and taxpayers without any proof of harm. The answer is not to punish an innovative surgeon who provides excellent care at a reduced cost, but update the policies at the Department of Public Health to allow for oversight of these type of facilities.

Dr. Birchansky provides excellent care, and I will continue to recommend him to my patients.

Dr. Joshua

Woodland

Manchester