Need for new medical mall not established

I have to agree with Dr. Carl Aschoff (June 13 letter) about the Physicians' Clinic of Iowa medical mall. Before proceeding with any other plans, a certificate of need should be required. Why would we want to go forward without actually knowing what the outcome will be to patient care and costs?

As Aschoff writes,

“ ... there are only two justifiable reasons for PCI's plans to build ... to improve patient care outcomes and to curtail the spiraling costs of health care.” I concur that neither would be achieved.

We have found that duplication of services costs more. Each facility that owns the latest and greatest technology must pay for it. The only way to do so is to increase fees and charge patients and insurance companies.

To their credit, St. Luke's Hospital and Mercy Medical Center have done an exceptional job of not duplicating much of each other's services and have, it seems, come to agreement with each other to cooperate on this issue. (If they would only be more forthcoming on their patient safety and report to the Leapfrog Group, but that is another editorial).

Garth Bowen

Cedar Rapids