To the Editor:

With the rising costs of running a hospital and the reasons to partner up with other health care facilities, it makes sense to do what they’re doing, but there’s another alternative to this problem. Why not buddy up with the Veterans Administration? With the inconvenience of having to travel 200 miles for a veteran to get any medical help, it is a no brainier for the St. Ignace hospital to merge with them. The hospital here has already shown the area how great a place it is with highly trained doctors, nurses, and therapists, so having the VA join with them would not only make it more convenient for veterans, but have a source to keep the hospital competitive with the larger health care hospitals in the state. Doesn’t this make sense?

Robert Denstedt

St. Ignace

Editor’s Note: Mackinac Straits Health System’s long term care facility is certified through the Veterans Administration to provide service to veterans. Hospital CEO Rod Nelson said he has met with VA officials to explore partnership options for the local hospital, and those discussions are ongoing.