Enough is NOT enough

So this post is unique in comparison to the others I have included. I have tried during my time here in Small Town X to learn from my experiences and look at the positive things that living in a new and different place has to offer. But here is where I draw the line.

I have heard stories of the hospital and physicians in this town. It has the nickname of the "band-aid factory". I knew these may be rumors, and I had not had any personal experiences to validate this label. Until today... I had a friend go into the hospital under dire circumstances that required some extensive evaluations to be done. Once their immediate health was stable, the hospital wanted to discharge them without any follow up. This was not the first occasion that this condition threatened their very life, and yet despite numerous hospitalizations, nothing had been done to help them beyond the first 24 hours. This individual is the epitome of vulnerable and cannot advocate for themselves. They have entrusted their life with the the very members of this community that have taken a oath to serve and protect them. And yet the bare minimum has been acceptable. Well no longer. Just enough is not enough. It is unacceptable, and it is time that this community tells them that small or not, they deserve better than what is being currently offered. Members of rural communities are already burdened, often times, with a lack of resources and options. This shortage of availability opens them up to becoming victims of complacency and sub standard service. To insinuate that an individuals worth is directly correlated to the population size of the area is ludicrous. I am very much aware that this is a problem not unique to this one particular town. It is something that rural areas all over struggle with. But when do we draw the line between being grateful for services in less than desirable locations, and saying that location aside, there are expectations that need to be met by these professionals? Well I am saying it now. The people of Small Town X deserve better. Better than what they are being offered. Better than what many think they may deserve. They are entitled to the best care available, and to be offered anything short of that is unacceptable and completely unethical.

So where to go from here. Opening a forum in the community to educate and stand up and say we deserve better. The paper is used as such a forum. So this is just the beginning, this will grow. And I only hope that I will not stand alone when saying that the time has come. The time to act and be unafraid to say with conviction that just "enough" is not longer enough.