thoughts on the news of the day: looking local

hmmm…..

            The best hospitals in the United States were recently ranked by US News and World Report.  Naturally these came from the largest cities in the United States.  Hospitals like New York-Presbyterian Hospital of Columbia and Cornell, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.  All are great hospitals, but for most of us, they are inaccessible because of their distance.

            When possible, I try to shop locally, even when choosing a hospital.  Fortunately, our little town has a top notch facility. A good friend of mine recently brought his Mom to our hospital for health problems and even though he has worked in the health care field throughout the United States for years, he says that she has gotten the best nursing care of anywhere he has ever been.  I am sure there are folks out there who have not had the same experience, but by and large as I serve my parishioners, they seem to be very satisfied with the care they receive at our local medical center.

            Yes, online shopping is great.  The variety is infinite and prices are extremely competitive.  But for some things, like medical care, online shopping is not an option.  And for others, looking local first helps the city’s economy grow.    

            Specialty shops in local areas can give the kind of friendly service and attention that just don’t exist in the internet community.  So, I think I will make more of an effort to try our local retail outlets first, and I recommend that you try them, too -- we might just be pleasantly surprised!

            hmmm…..