As the mother of an Illinois High School Rodeo Association competitor, I was disappointed in the cover story of the competition in Gillette, Wyo. (“Serious horseplay,” Sept. 4). Of the 32 Illinois high schoolers who went to the National High School Finals Rodeo, only a handful were identified or mentioned by name. Also lacking was information on how teens can become involved in Illinois High School Rodeo. Membership information is available at IHSRA.org.
It’s helpful to live in a rural area, but you don’t have to be “raised in a barn” to be competitive in high school rodeo. My daughter, Sarah, who is a senior this year, was born in Chicago. She began riding in the 6th grade, when we were living in Naperville. This year at the state finals, she earned a spot-the top 4 in each event-at the national finals in Pole Bending. Chicago-area readers who would like to see these competitors in action can attend the IHSRA Rodeo at the Sandwich Fairgrounds in Sandwich, Ill., beginning at 1 p.m. today, Oct. 2.
SUSAN TENCZAR / Putnam, Ill.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE that talented teenagers are squandering their skills participating in rodeo competitions. Rodeos are outmoded and should be banned because the unwilling animals that are forced to participate are treated in a cruel, inhumane and exploitive fashion. Dog fights, cockfighting, bullfighting and rodeos are flagrant examples of violent irreverence for animal life. It’s time to get civilized!
BRIEN COMERFORD / Glenview
Who’s a better doctor?
In your article on hospitalists (“Where is my” doctor?” July 24) there was a negative skew to the story that I would like to correct. Hospitalists are, by definition, physicians who practice medicine in the hospital full-time. This gives them advantages over traditional primary-care physicians, including:
– A significant increase in availability. We can check on a patient up to four times a day, compared to the standard once a day by primary-care physicians.
– Better communication among hospitalists and patients, nurses and family members than primary-care providers. We have the time to explain to patients what the problem is rather than just hand out prescriptions.
– More discussion about treatment plans with specialists, leading to a better team approach to inpatient care.
We are specialists in inpatient medicine. It’s all we do. We have a better understanding of the many drugs and hospital procedures than primary-care physicians. Because we practice at a higher level of quality and efficiency, hospital stays are significantly shorter. This lowers the chances of infections acquired in the hospital and translates into lower health-care costs.
Doctors need to take extra time to obtain as much information about patients and their histories as possible. In this complex age of time pressure, hospitalists are the solution to the problem, not part of it.
SUJ SUNDARARAJ, MD / president, Chicago Society of Hospital Medicine
———-
Write us
Send mail to The Editor, Chicago Tribune Magazine, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, or to tribmag@tribune.com.
