Supports Dr. Wein
Dear Editor: My personal experience with Dr. Wein has always made me realize how very fortunate Sitka is to have a doctor of his caliber. He’s an excellent surgeon with great bedside manners who cares deeply for his patients.
Surgery is always scary and he has the special talent to help you relax and feel confident that everything is going to be okay and you are going to be well cared for. Keeping the welfare of Sitka’s patients as a priority, we cannot afford to lose this treasure. Please, to those who are in a position to change this, do whatever it takes to reinstate him to our community hospital family.
Linda Olson, Sitka
Skilled Surgeon
Dear Editor: Four months ago I was south visiting with my sister, and included in the visit was my one-year check up at the dermatologists. Sure enough, they found another spot of basal cell carcinoma on my back. Last year I had one other spot on my back removed and two surgeries on the spots on my face (with a specialty MOHS surgeon), one included placing a graft on the spot where there was squamous cell carcinoma, and the other resulted in a four-inch scar from a deeper basal cell area. I was very relieved to have been taken care of by an excellent surgeon in Sacramento, not too far from where my sister lives. This year when they asked me if I wanted to have the spot on my back removed before I traveled out of the country, I told them, “No, I will wait until I get back home to Sitka, because we have a very kind and competent surgeon there that I would like to take my business to.” I was talking of course about Dr. Wein.
The day that I was scheduled to go in to SCH for the removal of my cancer, I received a call on my answering machine, canceling my appointment without an explanation. I received a subsequent follow-up call, but it was just as cryptic, advising me to come in to the clinic if I needed services. Whoever was calling me clearly did not know what my situation was, nor were they suggesting a viable solution to my canceled appointment, nor did I receive a follow-up call from anyone who actually knew what my medical need was.
We SCH patients now know the reason for those cryptic messages and the lack of organized follow-through. Dr. Wein was officially “let go,” from the hospital on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day (nice touch), and the staff are now scrambling to rebook the patients with an unknown surgeon.
Can’t we figure out a better way to do the business of medicine? I don’t pretend to know the whole story here. But one thing I do know is that we were extremely fortunate to have a great person and excellent surgeon like Dr. Wein living in Sitka for all these years. Thank you so much, Dr. Wein, for your personable, caring and professional service to us all. We are now out of luck, and have to swallow the bitter pill of hospital bureaucracy at its worst.
Unfortunately, I guess it may be time to go down south again.
Auriella Hughes, Sitka
Dr. Wein
Dear Editor: There is no denying that we Sitkans have been blessed to have Dr. Richard Jan Wein with us for so many years. My own younger grandchildren were both delivered by him – one at SEARHC and one at Sitka Community Hospital.
Dr. Wein’s skill and knowledge have seen so many of us safely through our most challenging times.
His kindness will always keep Dr. Wein in our hearts with love.
Pauline Fredrickson, Sitka
Dedicated Doctor
Dear Editor: Sitka has a long history of problems getting and keeping a surgeon. Now, it seems we are losing, or have lost, Dr. Wein, an excellent surgeon dedicated to our community.
Guess who is paying the administration irresponsible for this, ‘‘Your Tax Dollars at Work.’’
Spike Arnold, Sitka
Talented Doctor
Dear Editor: Many times when I was the mayor and listened to public comments, I would always try to do what I thought was in the best interests of the community. Lately, we’ve been hearing lots of public comments regarding the dismissal of Dr. Wein. On a personal note, I would like to thank him for saving my wife Joan’s life. I am forever indebted to this kind, caring and talented doctor.
Sitka has always been known as a ‘‘healing place.’’ People come from all over Alaska to Sitka to heal. Part of that healing has been the result of our hospitals, our doctors and in general, a very caring community. I would hope and pray that our Sitka Community Hospital Board and our city Assembly (the leaders of our community), can come together and find some common ground and a solution which would allow this kind and caring physician to continue to serve the people of Sitka.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Stan Filler, Joan Filler, Sitka
