Skilled Care Crisis Unites County!

Although it had been rumored for weeks, last week's breaking news that the private owners of the R.J. Reynolds Patrick County Memorial Hospital are seeking to sell the hospital's 25 skilled care nursing beds to Chatham Rehabilitation Center at a gain of over $1.8-million set off a large scale public protest by irate Patrick County citizens, taxpayers, and government officials. The plan to close the local hospital's skilled care unit was met with a thundering public outcry that probably hasn't reverberated through these scenic hills since the natural gas pipeline issue several years ago. Having debated such divisive issues as the Patrick Springs Water and Sewer Project, the new county jail and courthouse, and the school renovation plan in recent months, this is one critical issue that has apparently united our county in a concerted effort to save the hospital, one of our community's most valuable resources.

A representative of the R.J. Reynolds Patrick County Memorial Hospital is scheduled to appear before the Patrick County Board of Supervisors to discuss the issue on Monday, Mar. 10, 2008, at a public meeting that will begin at 6 p.m. in the Patrick County Veteran's Memorial Building. I urge all concerned citizens in the county who can do so to attend to get the facts about this issue and to show your opposition to what appears to be a very irresponsible move and one that could doom the hospital and further devastate an economy already crippled by heavy job losses resulting from the collapse of furniture and textile industries. If possible, I also urge concerned citizens to attend the Tuesday, Mar. 11, 2008, 1 p.m. public hearing on the relocation of the 25 skilled nursing beds at the Chatham Volunteer Fire Department.

I commend the Patrick County Board of Supervisors for its prompt response to this crisis when it authorized the drafting of a letter in opposition to the sale of the 25 skilled nursing home beds by the hospital and strongly recommending the Health Planning Agency of Southwest Virginia , Inc. and the Health Commissioner disapprove the proposed sale. The letter signed by board chairman Jonathan Large and county administrator Craig Teller, states that the sale would create a shortage of skilled nursing home beds in the county that would require patients to compete for nursing home beds in distant localities, forcing their families to travel great distances, and having both economic and quality of life impacts on Patrick County families. In addition to the impact on health care in Patrick County, the proposed sale would have a significant adverse economic impact. "Our Patrick County government is strongly united in its opposition to this proposed sale," the letter states. Let's hope that state and regional regulatory authorities heed this strongly-worded message.

Also to be commended are groups and citizens such as Scott Eutsler who have spearheaded a petition drive to protest the relocation of the 25 skilled care beds at the local hospital that are now "fully utilized." I urge concerned citizens throughout the county to make your opposition to this proposal known by signing one of these petitions which are available at WHEO's Wayside Rd., Stuart offices, Wanda's Jewelry in Stuart, E-Z Stop in Dry Pond, Ararat Grocery, Crossroads Store on Rt. 103, and other businesses. I was happy to sign my name to one of these documents.

I have invited Bob Blake, the new interim CEO of the hospital and his management team, to appear as my guests on my Fri., Mar. 14, 2008, "Communty Conversation" show, and I am still awaiting a firm reply. Mr. Blake, who spoke to the Stuart Rotary Club last Monday night, appears to be a very competent community-oriented administrator who has the expertise to turn the local hospital around. But there are widespread questions in the commuity as to whether the hospital's owners have the hospital's and the community's best interests at heart. We need answers to our questons about their intentions and plans for this hospital.

While the hospital is privately owned, it is important to remember that the citizens of this county have a great stake and an investment in the hospital that they can ill affort to lose. When this rural hospital was founded 46 years ago, it is my understanding that many citizens in our community donated a significant portion of their hard-earned dollars through payroll deductions at work so that this outstanding heal care facility could become a reality. Patrick County needs its hospital! It is an absolute must that we maintain this local health care resource and restore its fianancial viability. Let's make sure that this message is heard loudly and clearly!

Personal note: As I update this blogg on Sunday afternoon, Mar. 9th at 3:30 p.m., I am suffering from a severe case of laryngitis and probably will be unable to do my 6-10 a.m. air shift on "The Great Day in the Morning Show" tomorrow, Mon., Mar. 11th and possibly beyond into next week. I plan to go back to the doctor Monday to see if I can get some sort of relief from a general flu-cold-sinus type condition that has plagued me and countless others in our community for most of this year. Please pray for me that my voice and my health will be restored and that I will be able to return to work soon. Above all, please pray for the many other citizens in our community who are so much more worse off than me in terms of illness, disease, and personal problems. God bless Patrick County!

Until next time, may God bless you with a "great day."

Your radio friend and community supporter,
Richard