Former Patient Urges Providence to Keep St. Joseph’s Acute Rehab Unit Open in Letter to the Editor
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Editor,
As a former patient of St. Joseph’s Acute Rehab Unit, I recommend that Providence keep this much needed facility open.
The illogic of Providence’s decision has been pointed out in local media and the National Union of Healthcare Workers has spoken against it.
Outsourcing rehabilitation services to Brius, which has long been known for shoddy care, neglect of patients, and fleecing taxpayers’ Medicare dollars for services never delivered, is not a responsible option.
I was admitted to Rehab in 2021 after hip and knee fractures. It was an intense experience that paid off. At age 74 I had to learn to walk again and take care of my basic needs. Everyone in the unit, doctor, nurses, aides, therapists, social workers, were positive, kind, encouraging, and worked hard to support me.
My first efforts to stand up were unsuccessful. I was advised, “If you can’t stand and walk, and use the bathroom on your own by the end of this two-week session, you’ll need to go to a nursing home.” Brius’s dismal reputation gave me a powerful incentive to recover.
Daily physical therapy sessions tested my limits, pushed beyond, and built up my stamina. Therapists advised me and my family what home modifications I would need, medical equipment, where to get it, and how to use it.
Equally important was care after discharge. Therapists and nurses came to my home to provide follow-up. Thanks to Rehab, I am again independent and contributing to the economy and the culture.
Providence may prioritize its CEOs and shareholders’ profits, but we who live here and care about quality of life, need rehab services that actually work.
Sincerely,
Fran Ransley, Eureka
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Honestly,
We all need to accept that our needs and feelings do not concern Providence at all…
Providence, is dumping you, dumping you onto a Provider that Providence has contracted with…
I am sure it’s one of those “one hand washing its hands of you in order to allow the other hand to do the billing and the laundry, and the funding of the help” deals, and the Rehab Facility probably pays the employees less, so, Providence is also screwing over their own employees, so as to increase overall profit…
Providence is another evil American Corporation, doing whatever it can to survive in a locally rather weak market consisting largely of Patients who are on Medicare and Medicaid, while improving the bottom line.
If you don’t like this move, you can travel to another community, where essentially the same thing will be happening, with other corporations and other Rehab Facilities…
It’s no fun, having to be in one of these awful places, in fact, no more fun than being treated like a piece of meat at any other provider…
Remember, 70,000,000 Americans are retiring, an entire Generation folks, and nobody was ready with services!
Probably should suggest this industry to some of those Angel Investors and Billionaire Donors, but it’s not particularly profitable…
My advice: Die at home, go quickly and, don’t consume care from second-rate crooks like Providence…
If they’re chucking you over to “Rehab”, you are about to get the education you missed…
Follow the money…