Do PCI’s actions reflect putting patients first?

Many Cedar Rapids residents disagree with Physicians' Clinic of Iowa's firing of Dr. Chirantan Ghosh, citing it as an example of misplaced corporate priorities - namely, placing image and corporate interests ahead of patient care.

Overall, there has been a lack of public transparency regarding the PCI medical mall project in general. Successful business models found in Mayo Clinic and John Hopkins, for example, emphasize compassionate patient care in a team environment.

In Dr. Ghosh's situation, examples have been cited where he has made house calls to oncology patients who could not come to his office. So, where does the holistic care of patients fit into PCI's scheme of things? Are we missing something here?

In the vein of Cedar Rapids ever becoming a “magnet” for health care, can the community afford to lose one of its finest physicians? Have we spoken of Dr. Ghosh's accomplishment of being the only Iowa oncologist to receive the nomination as one of only four candidates for the first national ASCO Humanitarian Award for oncologists?

Mary L. Cory

Cedar Rapids