I have severe rheumatoid arthritis and have been seeing a specialist that comes over from Rochester every six months. The same was true of Albert Lea. However, now I have been advised that effective early 2018 the specialist (I have no idea what other specialists this will affect) will no longer be coming to Austin and that will also be true in Albert Lea. I was told that my primary care giver would handle that duty — someone I like but who has no training in a complicated field and knowledge of how to watch for various medication results and reactions.

For me, a 79-year-old woman who is uncomfortable with driving in downtown Rochester anyway, it makes a 45-minute drive each way. I have no idea who I could get to drive me over there. It is even worse for Albert Lea patients, they will have about a 75-100 mile drive each way, depending on location.

Caroline Munoz,

Austin