Who is hospice really benefiting?

To the editor,

Last week I attended the annual Hospice fundraiser Soup for the Soul. Hospice is a precious option for those in their final days, weeks or months of life and for their loved ones as well. But this year’s fundraiser gave all the ballyhoo to the new inpatient hospice building soon to be breaking ground at Mercy Hospital. The only hitch in the presentation came when a Centura spokesperson announced they were asking our community to raise an additional $1 million in order to complete the project. That in addition to the more than $4 million raised thus far. This, and other aspects of the evening, left me troubled by a bevy of unanswered questions.

Firstly, why is our compassionate and generous community being asked to foot the entire bill for a facility that will belong entirely to Centura Health when it’s completed? The origins of the project came from Centura’s development department, not from the people of Durango and its surroundings. Do the people of Durango actually know what they’re paying for and why?

Second, where is the data to support building such a facility in the first place? Although the need does occasionally arise to admit a hospice patient to an in-patient facility, how often does this need arise? Is the need sufficient to warrant this new $5 million building?

Third, who will get to use this facility? It was announced at the event that in order to make the new facility economically feasible, the eight beds and deluxe accommodations (by any standards) would be filled by regular hospital patients as well as by hospice patients. Basically that means that Mercy-Century has free reign to make money from this fully community-funded project, and that it will in fact service mostly non-hospice patients. Hospital and hospice are not the same thing and do not share compatible philosophies of care, nor are regular hospital staff and nurses trained in the principles and protocols of hospice.

If all of this weren’t disturbing enough, there yet remains the question of which hospice patients will have access to this facility? Medicaire/Medicaid pays for a large portion of the cost of at-home hospice care, and typically the parent hospital or organization must provide the remainder. Hospice care, when true to its philosophy and practice, is meant to be made available to every citizen regardless of their financial status or insurance coverage. But that will most certainly not be the case with this new in-patient facility. In-patient hospice care is not covered by Medicaire/Medicaid, and this new facility will accordingly be available only to those who can pay for it out of pocket or have purchased special long-term care insurance.

Personally, I find Centura’s opacity and potential misuse of our community’s trust in this matter to be abhorrent. Hospice care is community care – and needs to be transparent and accountable in every aspect to the community it serves. But that is far from the case here.

Do the fine citizens of Durango know what they’re paying for and why? I can’t imagine they do. But they sure as hell should demand to know – and soon, before it’s too late to even bother asking.

– Rich Alan, Durango

Save the world, skip the burger

To the Editor,

With the 47th annual observance of Earth Day this week, this is a great time to explore more effective ways of slowing climate change and conserving Earth’s natural resources for future generations.

A 2010 UN report charged animal agriculture with 19 percent of man-made greenhouse gases – more than all transport – and recommended a global shift to a vegan diet. A subsequent World Watch study placed that contribution closer to 50 percent. Meat and dairy production also dumps more water pollutants than all other human activities combined. It is the driving force in global deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction.  

Last fall, England’s prestigious Chatham House declared that reducing meat consumption is critical to achieving global climate goals. A report from Oxford University found that global adoption of a vegan diet would reduce greenhouse emissions by two thirds. The 2015 U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has recommended reduced meat consumption and an environmentally sustainable diet.

Just as we replace fossil fuels by wind, solar and other sustainable energy sources, we must replace animal foods with the more sustainable vegetables, fruits and grains. Being mindful of this can help us make better choices at the supermarket.

– Dante Gomez, Durango

Local energy fuels local economy

To the editor,

I support Jack Turner for re-election to the La Plata Electric Association Board of Directors in District 4.  Jack has done a phenomenal job representing our interests as co-op members during his time as a board member and we need to keep him on the board to ensure that LPEA moves into the future sustainably. Jack is advocating for solutions that will help the co-op provide reliable, sustainable and affordable energy for many years to come.    

Jack is running to promote community sustainability. I agree with Jack that we need to put more emphasis on promoting local control over our energy. Right now LPEA must buy 95percent of our electricity from Tri-State Generation and Transmission. The vast majority of this energy has travelled hundreds of miles to get to us, which means that we are sending the money from our electricity bills out of our community. We should be focusing on increasing the amount of energy that we generate locally so that our local economy can grow and benefit from the money and jobs that would come with increased local generation. Local energy generation also helps move us away from the polluting coal-fired energy that we receive from Tri-State.  

During his time on the board, Jack has fought hard to be a champion for increased local generation and our local economy. I hope that you will join me in voting for Jack Turner, in District 4, when you receive your LPEA ballot this week.

– Anna Peterson, Durango

Beebe equals responsible energy

To the editor,

The LPEA Board of Directors are responsible for the operation of a $100 million-plus annual business that directly affects residents of Arculeta and La Plata counties. Unfortunately, some of the decisions made by the current board are agenda driven by special interests. We have an opportunity to elect a board member in District 4 with a strong background in accounting, banking and corporate law. John Beebe’s experience as a board member includes nonprofits, banking and the Upper Pine Fire District. A vote for John Beebe is confirmation that the LPEA Board of Directors will provide users with safe, reliable low-cost and environmentally responsible energy.

– Dennis Pierce, Durango