It's no secret that Auburn Memorial Hospital has been struggling financially, and that its administration has been making some painful changes in an effort to create stability.
We have no reason to doubt the hospital#'s sincerity when it says financial pressures made the shutdown of the Scipio Center clinic necessary. That reflects the sad reality in rural healthcare throughout the nation.
But this is a clinic that has operated for nearly a decade. That#'s a lot of families who have come to depend upon that office in that location.
Dr. Linda Simpkin, the physician running the office, had decided to retire prior to this decision from AMH administration. She was informed of the pending closure on December 8, which is when hospital officials should have let the community know as well. That way patients - the clinic sees about 75 patients a week - would have as much time as possible to examine all of their health care options.
Healthcare has become less and less accessible to those in rural areas of this country, forcing patients to make longer trips for necessary medical treatment.
But even though AMH is in the midst of painful belt-tightening, it remains an excellent healthcare facility. Hospital officials will admit that they are not the healthcare leaders in all areas of medicine, but still have much to offer local residents.
There are always some people that feel bigger is better, and are quick to head to Syracuse and Rochester for treatment, but there are times when a smaller healthcare operation can offer more individual, personal treatment.
Despite what may seem like a stream of bad news coming from the hospital over the last two years, the community needs to continue to support AMH and utilize its extensive list of services. There are terrific professionals serving this community in a number of fields, and while it may not be a complete full-service hospital, AMH provides quality care in many critical areas.
If the community doesn't support AMH, the Scipio Center closing will just be another in what could be a long line of difficult decisions for hospital officials.
But this is a clinic that has operated for nearly a decade. That#'s a lot of families who have come to depend upon that office in that location.
Dr. Linda Simpkin, the physician running the office, had decided to retire prior to this decision from AMH administration. She was informed of the pending closure on December 8, which is when hospital officials should have let the community know as well. That way patients - the clinic sees about 75 patients a week - would have as much time as possible to examine all of their health care options.
Healthcare has become less and less accessible to those in rural areas of this country, forcing patients to make longer trips for necessary medical treatment.
But even though AMH is in the midst of painful belt-tightening, it remains an excellent healthcare facility. Hospital officials will admit that they are not the healthcare leaders in all areas of medicine, but still have much to offer local residents.
There are always some people that feel bigger is better, and are quick to head to Syracuse and Rochester for treatment, but there are times when a smaller healthcare operation can offer more individual, personal treatment.
Despite what may seem like a stream of bad news coming from the hospital over the last two years, the community needs to continue to support AMH and utilize its extensive list of services. There are terrific professionals serving this community in a number of fields, and while it may not be a complete full-service hospital, AMH provides quality care in many critical areas.
If the community doesn't support AMH, the Scipio Center closing will just be another in what could be a long line of difficult decisions for hospital officials.
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.