Mayor-elect A C Wharton has continued to stress the focus he will continue to aim at preventing Memphis's only public hospital, The Regional Medical Center at Memphis, from going under. In the final debate of the campaign, he answered a question about why he wanted to leave his post as county mayor by using The Med as an example.
"If we operate more efficiently in the city, The Med will operate better," Wharton said. "Just because you go across the street does not mean you go hands-off with The Med."
Today, even as The Med's board announced it would close its emergency room in February if it cannot get $32 million in additional funding, Wharton re-emphasized his determination to make The Med a high priority. He was at The Med board meeting.
"I wanted to assure them that even though I'm going across the street, The Med is going to be one of our top priority issues here locally -- and in Nashville and at a national level," Wharton said. "Keep in mind this is the 18th-largest city in the U.S. and what we are facing is being faced across the country. I'm going to be joined by other mayors from around the country just pointing out the fact that in all current discussions on the national health plan there is really nothing in there to help hospitals like The Med."
Wharton pointed out that giving more coverage to more people would make it, "oddly enough," even more difficult for The Med.
"When people have choices, it leaves us with the worst of the worst, the gangbanger that gets shot in the head -- what insurance covers that?" Wharton said.
Well Carol Chumney tried to warn you people that A.C. was running from this problem and even played it down.As County Mayor it is his responsibility to address this problem.Now as city mayor his excuses carry weight,because he knows he has no power to change anything under the city charter.
He made a fool out of everyone of you that voted for him.And this is only the beginning of more excuses to come.You don't want real leadership,just a dark face in a high place.When you ,and your family get sick take them to Dr.A.C. at city hall.