Mayor Donald R. Grebien???s Response to the Department of Health???s 12/28/17 Decision Regarding Memorial Hospital
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DONALD GREBIEN
As someone who was born and raised in Pawtucket, Memorial Hospital has been part of our community and fabric for generations. While we recognize that this decision is a reflection of what is happening nationally with the healthcare system and decline of community hospital services, this will still be a very difficult transition for our community.
As soon as Care New England (CNE) began the closure process, it became clear that the long-term needs and impact to our community would need to be addressed. I, along with Mayor Diossa, immediately reached out to Governor Raimondo, CNE officials, the Department of Health (DOH) and existing healthcare representatives at the hospital to begin a dialogue to preserve the health care services provided at the existing hospital.
With the cooperation and support of the Pawtucket City Council and the Pawtucket and Central Falls Delegation, we were able to preserve some of the services needed in our community through this emergency department closure.??
The community members who came out to speak at the DOH public hearings reinforced the conditions that the City requested to be part of the decision. One of my major concerns, as reinforced by the testimony, was the need to hire a healthcare consultant to support DOH in assessing the long-term structural needs to protect the health and well-being of Pawtucket and Central Falls??? most vulnerable populations. I want to thank the Department of Health for placing multiple conditions that support these needs, as well as forming a stakeholder group of professionals.
While the decision today by DOH, the regulatory agency, means that Memorial Hospital will no longer function as the full-service hospital that we know, the application to cease providing primary care services is still pending in front of them. I will continue to work with DOH to ensure that the residents continue to have access to the quality care they need and deserve.