Rumors of Asante Ashland Community Hospital Closure Denied by CEO
ASHLAND, Ore. — Rumors that the Asante Ashland Community Hospital will shut its doors have been dispelled by the group’s CEO, Brandon Mencini, in an email to employees.
Staff at the 49-bed hospital which opened in Ashland in 1907 have become increasingly concerned about their future as services offered to the community are cut back.
Health Professionals Tell City Council About Red Flag Warnings
At the Ashland City Council meeting last week, three members of staff discussed recent events that have raised red flag warnings of possible closure. The council listened to their mounting doubts about the future of the hospital.
They raised concerns about the closure of the intensive care unit and the failure to renew contracts with orthopedic surgeons. A contract with outsourced anesthesia providers will end on September 1.
There is a shortage of staff, and the hospital gift shop has closed.
Hospital Services Whittled Away
Staff member, Dr. John Mauer, told the council that ‘actions speak louder than words.’ Mauer said he has watched the whittling away of hospital services, such as the termination of the ICU, and pointed to the fact that high-risk surgeries are no longer performed on the premises.
The doctor said the community had to be kept informed about the ‘stability’ of the hospital which has concerned staff members since its acquisition by the Asante Hospital Group in 2013 when daily operations were transferred by the City of Ashland.
A general surgeon at the Ashland hospital, Dr. B. Monte Stewart, told the meeting that the closure of the ICU was cause for concern.
Another problem said Dr. Stewart was that it was difficult to recruit staff when the future of the hospital was uncertain.
The third staff member to address the council meeting was part-time nurse who has worked at the Asante Community Hospital since the 1970s, Suzanne Haveman. She said that the hospital provided a high level of care and was an integral part of the Ashland community.
Asante CEO Denies Closure of Hospital
Responding to medical professionals who are questioning Asante’s plans for the future of the Ashland Community Hospital, Mencini told staff in an email that the closure rumors are ‘unfounded.’
Instead, he said, Asante was developing ‘a strategic plan’ for the hospital and would continue to provide surgical operations, as well as anesthesia services after September 1 when the present contract ends.
He said there would be no gap in coverage of services at the hospital.
Undertaking to provide the community with regular updates, Mencini said the Asante Hospital Group had obtained valuable feedback from discussions with more than 100 business and community leaders, physicians and staff members. He said this information will form the backbone of the future strategy plan.
Mencini assured that planning is underway so that Asante can invest in the Ashland Hospital and meet community needs.
Mencini’s remarks have been endorsed by Asante spokesperson, Desirae Myers. She described the hospital as ‘a treasure’ to the Ashland community and confirmed that strategic planning was underway. She said Asante was undertaking strategic planning so that it could cater to the future needs of the community.
References
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/hpa/analytics/pages/hospital-details.aspx