Medical personnel should be certified at all levels of service

Medical personnel should be certified at all levels of service

I agree with the opinion of a doctor who wrote last Sunday that nurses should not go beyond what the practice of nursing allows. I feel that if a person wants to be a physician, nurse, teacher, marine biologist, or engineer that they should be required to take the course of study that will qualify them to do so.

My concern is that of the “medical assistants” who are hired by medical facilities and physicians with no training or medical background at all. I am a Certified Medical Assistant with education and a certificate stating that I am qualified to work as a medical assistant with any health care facility across the nation. However, I have worked in many private practices and have been a patient where the so-called medical assistants are hired with no medical training or education. If physicians feel that the nurses should not be permitted to diagnose and treat, then why are these so-called medical assistants allowed to take vitals, give injections, perform EKGs, draw blood, and assist in surgical procedures?

Some people feel that they can go around the system and that on-the-job training now fully qualifies them as a medical assistant. I think not. The American people do deserve the best professional in every field. The medical field should be the least to this exception.

The issue here is money. A facility or private practice can pay less to a nonprofessional than to a professional, and this is why many so called medical assistants have jobs and the educated and trained medical assistants cannot find work. I was once told by a physician that a monkey could do the job of his “clinical medical assistant,” my reply was that I hoped that there was never an emergency in his office because the monkey would probably just run for a banana.

Karen M. Perry, Youngstown

Su casa es mi casa

Recently large demonstra- tions have taken place across the country protesting the fact that Congress is finally addressing the issue of illegal immigration.

Certain people are angry that the U.S. might protect its own borders, might make it harder to sneak into the country and, once here, to stay indefinitely.

Let me see if I correctly understand the thinking behind these protests.

Let’s say I break into your house. Let’s say that when you discover me in your house, you insist that I leave. But I say no, I like it here. It’s better than my house. I’ve made all the beds, washed the dishes, did the laundry and swept the floors. I’ve done all the things you don’t like to do. I’m hard working and honest (except for when I broke into your house).

According to the protesters:

You are required to let me stay in your house.

You are required to feed me.

You are required to add me to your insurance plan.

You are required to educate my kids.

You are required to provide other benefits to me and my family.

My husband will do all your yard work because he is also hard working and honest. (Except for that breaking in part).

If you try to call the police or force me out, I will call my friends who will picket your house carrying signs that proclaim my “right” to be there.

It’s only fair, after all, because you have a nicer house than I do, and I’m just trying to better myself. I’m a hard working and honest person, except for well, you know, I did break into your house, and what a deal it is for me.

I live in your house, contributing only a fraction of the cost of my keep, and there is nothing you can do about it without being accused of cold, uncaring, selfish, prejudiced and bigoted behavior.

Oh, yeah, and I demand that you learn my language, so that you can communicate with me.

Why can’t people see how ridiculous this is?

Joe Colonna, Hubbard

Honor our soldiers and our flag

It’s a privilege to honor our flag, our men and women in uniform and those who have fallen for our country and our way of life.

On Memorial Day we need to remember and honor our vets who were wounded or gave their lives while fighting under the stars and stripes to preserve our freedom. On May 31 we need to keep in our hearts and give thanks to all the men and women that made it possible for us to live and worship as free people.

Americans who disrespect the flag, through acts of arrogance protesting for causes that go against our principles and our flag, do not represent the majority of Americans.

Also celebrate our flag on June 14. We as a nation are obligated to honor, respect, and defend Old Glory that was created on June 14, 1777. God bless this, the United States of America.

Carl Bryan, Salem