Editor:

I wish to let the people of Beeville know about the runaway charges at Christus Spohn Hospital. About two weeks ago, I broke a rib in a freak accident at home. Then later on in the evening, I stepped on a rusty nail, which had fallen from the screen door.

I went to the emergency room for my rib, but they did nothing. No X-ray, no exam, did not even look at the bruise. Took my blood pressure and said my breathing sounded normal. So I returned home with no help or advice from them.

I later returned with the rusty nail wound in my heel. I had soaked it in hot epsom salt water, put salve on it and bandaged it. But I wanted a tetanus shot. They never looked at the wound on my heel, said it looked like I had taken care of it. So they gave me a tetanus shot at my request!

Now yesterday, I get two bills from them. One was $761.85 and the other was $450.53. How outrageous can this hospital’s fees get? I am a senior on social security, which is all the income I have, but even if I had money, it is outrageous to charge anyone at this rate.

I certainly can see why some doctors and patients refuse to do business with Christus Spohn. Our country is going to hell in a hand basket and this hospital is taking us all for a ride. I will never enter their doors again, under any circumstance.

Take heed, Beeville, maybe we can starve them out and get a decent hospital system. My total monthly social security check would not cover these charges. I was in the ER a maximum of 30 minutes for both services.

Thank you for reading this and think about it! I refuse to pay these outrageous charges and am sending a copy of this letter to Medicare and Secure Horizons.