LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: SUGGESTS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

To the Editor:

I noted with interest your quotation of Mr. Jeff Krantz, director of planning for Southeast Missouri Hospital and co-chairman of the chamber's health and human services committee (in the Saturday, Oct. 2 paper) to the effect that your two hospitals spend $200,000 each annually in an attempt to attract primary care physicians to Cape Girardeau.

I have a suggestion: Spend this money to develop quality internship and residency training programs in primary care. This way, you will attract medical students with young families to your community to complete their training. It is less likely that promising doctors will leave such an ideal community as Cape if they have the opportunity to complete their basic training here. It will also keep the money in the community.

Dale E. Alsager

Senior Medical Student

Cape Girardeau