Alice Beyrent: Milchev's departure is true loss to his patients, the community

To The Daily Sun,

One of the things we all depend on is our health care. We value the relationship we have with our primary care physician and trust in their diagnosis and management of our condition. I was so sad to be informed that Dr. Valentin Milchev has left his practice and all those patients who depended on him for their care. He was a wonderful diagnostician and communicator. He cared deeply about his patients and up until about five years ago was one of a few doctors who still made hospital visits to his patients. It was always a relief when he would walk through the door and collaborated with the various specialists assigned to our case. My husband's and my relationship with him lasted more than 15 years; he was particularly helpful in helping me understand my husband's condition over the past five years and particularly caring after he passed on. While I wish him all the best in this next phase of his life and career, I am truly sad for the loss to his patients and the community. It is particularly difficult to see a provider a patient doesn't know for a one time appointment and then be reassigned to a new primary care physician who doesn't know them and does not have a relationship with them except on the computer. I hope that we don't lose any more of our trusted physicians who we have come to depend on.

Alice Beyrent

Gilford