I have grave concerns over the proposed closure of Scripps East County Hospital.
For residents of the back country, Scripps East County is their lifeline. The next closest hospital is an additional 15-20 minutes west.
When you are transporting a child who has drowned, or a grandfather who has had a heart attack, this additional time could be the difference between life and death. For all residents of East County, the closure of Scripps East will mean longer lines in the emergency rooms of Alvarado and Grossmont hospitals.
If Scripps abandons the East County like they are planning, I say give someone else a chance. Give someone else the opportunity to buy this hospital!
In a recent letter to Frank Panarisi, chairman of the Scripps Health board of trustees, I called for three things on behalf of the people of East County:
– First, that Scripps extend the June 5 closure date for at least six months in order for other potential buyers to be able to negotiate the purchase of the hospital.
– Second, for Scripps to suspend the license and leave the hospital equipment intact so that it will be easier to transfer the hospital to a potential buyer.
– Third, that Scripps help to develop and finance a mitigation plan to alleviate the negative impacts of this closure.
In a letter from the Scripps Health board, Chairman Panarisi declined to extend the date of the planned closure citing “untenable financial losses,” and also called it “logistically infeasible.” Panarisi noted Scripps has submitted a request for a license suspension and stated the hospital will participate in the exploration of various mitigation options.
The proposed closure will mean potentially 24,000 emergency room visits for Grossmont and Alvarado hospitals. Grossmont emergency room is on bypass, meaning its emergency room is full 30 percent of the time. What will happen with an additional 24,000 emergency room visits?
I’ll tell you what will happen: long lines at the emergency room door and longer distances to travel , all of which means lives will be at risk!
Several questions deserve an answer.
1. If Scripps East was in fact losing money since 1996, why didn’t they ask East County elected officials for help?
2. Why didn’t Scripps East inform the East County people and their elected representatives before March 7?
3. Why didn’t Scripps East engage in an aggressive marketing campaign to try to increase market share?
4. Why did Scripps choose to only give us 90 days’ notice , the minimum required by law , that they were going to close the hospital?
Is it because this closure has been planned for some time? Is it because Scripps doesn’t care about the people in East County? Is it because Scripps doesn’t care whether or not people die?
Scripps’ mission is “to make a measurable, positive difference in the health of the individuals in the communities (they) serve … promote wellness and improve the quality of life for those with chronic illness.” Also, “to collaborate with others in programs that improve the health of our community.”
Scripps should either scrap their mission statement or live up to it. All we are asking for is more time to work together, to collaborate with others, to assure actions are taken so that no lives are lost as a result of Scripps’ announced closure of this hospital.
I don’t think this is too much to ask! Do you?
Jacob represents the 2nd District on the county Board of Supervisors.
