The Adelphia: Excellence From a Bygone Era

My friend Dr. Banchs called Susan and I up at 5:15 today (Friday)and asked us if we would like to go to The Adelphia Hotel on Broadway in Saratoga for a quick drink. We haven't been in the Adelphia before and it appeared to be a beautiful old hotel from an era of grande old hotels. The lobby and the gardens were stunning and reminiscent of a British Hotel. As we sat with our drinks, we commented on on how things such as SPAC, The Adelphia, or fine restaurants like 8 Tables or Dine could simply fade into the night because we have not enculturated our children to appreciate excellence.

I have written before about the fact that excellence in medicine and dentistry could easily evaporate before our eyes because patients would rather pay a co-pay for mediocre health care and dental care than be taken care of by superb physicians and dentists.

Many things that represent excellence in our nation will simply fade away because no one really accepts or wants a superb experience at the Ballet or a fabulous physician or dentist that puts his/her heart and soul into taking care of their patients. We need only watch Mystery Diagnosis on TV to know how frustrating it must be to go from doctor to doctor until the patient finds a world class doctor who easily discovers what is wrong with the patient. Invariably, the patient asks, "Why didn't any of the other doctors know what was wrong with me?"

That superb physician, fabulous hotel or the ballet is coming to an end for a lack of appreciation. Use it or lose it...I promise you.