Public Hospitals on the Decline

It's an unfortunate situation that will continue if the economy doesn't shape up soon. Hospitals need money just as much as anyone else in these hard times and they're finding that increased costs along with fewer patients with health insurance (many because of unemployment) is taking a toll on the public hospital system. It's a serious toll indeed. The government isn't providing sufficient funding either, so these hospitals are forced to close their doors to the communities that need them the most: low income communities. It's a sad correlation, the poorer are getting sicker and their ability to survive is dwindling simply because hospitals don't have the funds to provide them their basic right to a healthy life. I hope this trend is a major signal to the government, highlighting the very real need for a better insurance system and a better public hospital system. It's truly a disgrace that we can't provide our citizens with the health care that they need and instead have them become increasingly sick or waiting in overcrowded and understaffed hospitals that, by necessity, have to worry more about getting them in and out quickly than about making sure they're healthy and able.