Letter: Patient fighting to keep her Barton doctor

To the Editor; I thought I would have my doctor for a long time. I did not know that a state line would be the reason I was torn from her. I am writing this because it is not just myself that is feeling this loss. Every Medi-Cal patient that had a doctor move from Barton Family to Stateline Medical Center is feeling this loss. My doctor knows my medical history and knows me, this relationship has been cultivated over the years. The anxiety, and thinking about having to retrace my medical history and get acquainted with a new doctor is daunting. All while my doctor is still seeing patients; just not me because I am on Medi-Cal.

Barton is planning on building a new hospital and through all the talk I heard (from Barton employees) that Medi-Cal would be accepted there due to rural designations. If that is the case, why did Barton Healthcare not think moving doctors to Nevada would be the perfect time to implement this?

When I talk to the representatives who make appointments it is A) not mentioned that there will be a cost if I move forward with booking in Nevada, and B) when I bring up that it would cost me, I am told that I could pick another doctor. Like it is the easiest thing to do and not a big deal at all. That is why I am fighting for the right to see MY doctor! The one that I have spent time building a relationship with and who I feel cares about me.

Come on Barton please consider ALL of your patients when making decisions. We should not be an afterthought!!!

Respectfully,
Michelle Apodaca