Hard work gives QTC advantage

5/7/2006

Your April 30 editorial "Conflict at the VA," represented a misleading and false impression of both my personal career and of QTC Management, Inc.

The editorial said that QTC benefited from my tenure at the VA, and that my return to QTC provided undue advantage to the firm for VA contracts. Both statements are patently false.

First and foremost, QTC provides more than 10 government agencies with high quality medical examination services. In 25 years of business, the firm has lost only one contract, which QTC won back just one year later.

QTC receives VA contracts, and all of its other contracts, through competitive bidding processes. We have earned each of our contracts through hard work and exceptional client service.

I did not join QTC until July 19, 1999, 18 months after QTC received its first contract with the VA. I had never even heard of QTC until I was contacted by an executive search firm regarding a potential position at the company.

When I returned to the VA, I gave up all financial interests in QTC and created a standing order that any discussions of QTC, contracts related to the firm, or potential bidding processes that might include QTC were to be referred to the deputy secretary.

Following my tenure at the VA, I did not return to QTC until November, 2005, almost a year after my departure from the VA. I had not previously contemplated returning to QTC until I was contacted by a firm seeking to purchase QTC.

QTC wins contracts because we deliver the very best in the medical service industry, and any suggestion to the contrary is simply untrue.

ANTHONY PRINCIPI

Diamond Bar, Calif.

I read that President Bush has approved the sale of Doncaster, a British manufacturer/supplier of items vital to United States military and aerospace programs, to a Dubai, UAE company.

I know that the public (for "security reasons") must be kept in the dark about some issues, but on the surface of it, this doesn't seem like such a good idea.

Is it really a good idea for foreign entities to own and control the country's infrastructure and vital industries?

Is it wise to give control of our ports, military/aeronautic/aerospace parts industries, railways, airways, highways, power plants (nuclear and coal), water supplies, the Great Lakes, etc., to Dubai or to any foreign country?

Despite assurances by Dubai and other foreign owners that they will never harm the United States, and despite assurances that Americans will continue to be involved in the now-foreign-owned company's operation, manufacture, and inspection processes, it certainly seems possible that, down the road, a coalition of foreign owners of U.S. companies might find it in their best interests to meddle with these industries in such a way that could cripple us - that could finally bring the United States to its knees.

As owners of our vital industries, they will have the power to do that, you know.

SALLY MEDBOURN MOTT DAVENPORT

Bowling Green

I commend The Blade and the Toledo Bar Association for their support of the Caty Armstrong Memorial Law Day essay contest. What a wonderful tribute to our daughter's memory, and a wonderful opportunity for Toledo-area children.

MARIANNE E. ARMSTRONG

Ft. Myers, Fla

My husband has been a commercial fisherman for 51 years. He is the fourth generation to utilize our natural resources to support our family and community because, like farmers, we are food producers.

Weather, such as too much or too little rain, wind coupled with man-made issues, such as fuel costs and product pricing, can make for some lean years for all food producers.

The logic behind banning commercial fishing is flawed, because perch is at an all-time high. Commercial fishing aids in the elimination of white perch and sheepshead, which eat baby walleye, perch, and their eggs. With the buyout of gill nets 20 years ago, the $4 million buyout proposal now is ridiculous based on the value of perch.

The sports fishermen's suggestion that we impact their industry is ludicrous. There are many more people who eat fish but don't want to catch them. Kids today would rather play a video game or be on the computer than fish. This loss of jobs in almost every aspect of the nation's economy is more of an influence on the downturn in tourism than commercial fishing.

As a final note, regarding the recent indictments in commercial fishing, the fact remains that, as an industry, we still did not exceed the total allowable catch of yellow perch. We need this industry to sustain our families and our employees. Don't let another job go away.

CAROL DAVIS

Marblehead, Ohio

I was thrilled to read Marcy Kaptur's May 2 letter regarding outsourcing. However, we all need to be aware that it is not just the big manufacturers that are outsourcing jobs.

My daughter's job as a medical transcriptionist was recently outsourced after eight years. This was a part-time job that paid about $10,000 a year. That is a small amount when divided among three surgeons.

But what should concern all of us is this: Are these surgeons able to guarantee the enforcement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act? HIPAA is the guarantee of confidentiality of our medical and insurance records. Your medical records can be posted on the Internet because HIPAA laws are not enforceable in foreign countries.

This is information we received from Ms. Kaptur's office. We had contacted Ms. Kaptur's office at the urging Oscar Bunch, president of UAW Local 14. He was shocked to learn the outsourcing had trickled down this far.

So I ask this of everyone, especially the unions who want us all to buy American: Who is transcribing your medical records? Ask your physician at your next appointment. If your records are being outsourced, tell him or her you want them typed in the U.S.A.

DONNA MILLER

Temperance

On May 2, I was again denied the right to vote for the candidate(s) of my choice.

I have been a registered voter for many years, but because at one time I was an officer in a voting precinct, I was required to list a party affiliation, even though I really had no preference.

Now I am stuck. Once again I could not cast my vote for my desired candidate(s), since they are of the opposite party than the one in which I remain on record. Because Ohio is a state that has a closed primary, I can only be legally given one party's slate. If I change my party's affiliation, the result remains the same.

When is this state going to enter the 21 century and join the large majority of states that have open primaries?

BARBARA L. OLIVER

Maumee

Political ads portend to enlighten all us uninformed voters here in northwest Ohio. They claim to identify "hypocrites," "authentic conservatives," "flip-flopping promise breakers," "pro-life champions," yadda, yadda, yadda.

The one real "public service" they do provide is demonstrating that there isn't one genuine "public servant" in the whole bunch.

MEL POMMERANZ

Francis Avenue

Are there other people out there who like me are sick and tired of all the political "ad nauseam" TV ads? Just think, seven more months of listening to mud-slinging hypocrites.

Thank goodness for the "mute" button on my remote control.

TIM SADOSKI

Elmore, Ohio