Sidney Needs Home Health, Hospice Services

Dear Editor,

Even though it has been over seven months since our son Andy died of lung cancer and he could have benefited from Home Health and Hospice, it is still important to express our concern for the community’s continued need for Sidney Regional Medical Center to provide these services.

The Chronic Care Management program that was set in place instead of Home Health and Hospice sounds good on paper but in actuality does not provide all services needed. Several friends when extending sympathy for Andy shared stories of how Home Health and/or Hospice would have helped their family members if they had still been in place.

We agree with Mr. and Mrs. Benisek and Mr. and Mrs. Liess in their August 5 letter to the editor asking to “Bring Back Home Health and Hospice Care.” They were given the reason “money” whey questioning why the services were discontinued.

If money is an issue with sustaining the hospital, we question the reasoning for moving the walk-in clinic to the Interstate location and purchasing the new Electronic Health Record system, “Epic” which is one of the most expensive programs on the market.

If indeed SRMC is a nonprofit organization to serve the community, one would think that the Chronic Care Management program would provide true home health and hospice services.