Mark Ronning letter: Professional service at Fargo VA center

I would like to add my voice to those who support the Fargo Veterans Administration Medical Center. I have a background in the biological sciences and consider myself to be an "informed consumer" for medical services. In the course of my life I have received care from many medical practitioners and I would grade them from excellent to very poor. This experience is in line with my observations of people who practice any other specialty.

Medical professionals are humans also, they can be superb or not even totally competent depending on their experience level and training as well as their level of intelligence and even how much they care about their patients. In other words, when in doubt, get a second or even a third opinion!

Medical persons are only people, and we must be as understanding of their human frailties as we should be of our own. I can remember a bridge game aboard ship one evening when a particularly fine Navy medical officer offered the opinion that he was "just another chancre mechanic."

I have elected the Fargo Veterans Administration Medical Center as my primary health care facility because since my first experience with them in 1991, I have been most impressed with the staff facilities and operations there.

I choose to drive to Fargo for my "non-emergency" medical care, and I do not file for mileage reimbursement. I am a retired Marine and also a public employee and have double health insurance coverage as well as group supplemental health insurance. I can afford to have my medical care done at any medical facility.

I place my trust and my health in their hands and will continue to do so. I trust the Fargo Veterans Administration Medical Center to do what it is capable of doing for me and to "consult me out" to another facility/specialist when necessary.

I personally know of several other vets here in Fergus Fall, Minn., and Otter Tail County who feel as positive as I about the Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Thank you for your time and have a happy and blessed New Year.

Mark Ronning

USMC (Ret)

Fergus Falls, Minn.