Letters to the Editor - The Millerton News - 12-15-22

Sharon Hospital is open to all now

I am writing today as the medical director of the emergency department and the chief of staff for Sharon Hospital to clarify misinformation and reassure the community that Sharon Hospital is open and ready to care for you and your family. I want to assure my community that Sharon Hospital has a vibrant future in our region and that our team will continue providing the high-quality care our community needs most, right here in Sharon.

Our doors are open, and we are here to serve all your inpatient, outpatient, and emergency needs. Since Sharon Hospital’s founding in 1909, our Emergency Department has been here to help patients in our region with everything from broken bones to heart attacks and strokes. We remain committed to fulfilling the legacy that began more than 100 years ago, while staying up-to-date with modern and advanced standards of care to ensure we can continue providing highly skilled care right here for our community.

On behalf of the entire ED team, I would like to thank our patients and neighbors for their support. We feel incredibly lucky to have the privilege to care for such a wonderful community. Come see us whenever you need. We are here for you.

Ron M. Santos, DO, JD

Sharon

 

Growth opportunities in the Sharon Hospital transformation plan

I am the medical director of psychiatry at Sharon Hospital. I have been at the hospital for more than 12 years, and I know how valuable this hospital is to our community. That is why I am writing in support of Sharon Hospital’s transformation plan. My work with the inpatient behavioral health unit gives me an especially clear picture of Sharon Hospital’s impact on our 65+ population, a demographic expected to continue growing in the coming years.

Outside of behavioral healthcare, these patients rely on the hospital for emergency care, surgery, and specialty services such as palliative care.

They need Sharon Hospital to be here in the long term, and this requires us to adapt by making difficult but necessary choices.

I am excited about the growth opportunities presented by the transformation plan, particularly as they relate to behavioral health. By investing resources in behavioral health, a service line in demand within our region, we can expand care not only in our community — but also become a destination for those outside our region looking to receive compassionate, advanced behavioral health services. By doing so, we can be leaders in breaking down stigma and addressing the behavioral health crisis in our community and beyond.

Behavioral health is just one example of the many services that would have the opportunity to expand if Sharon Hospital is permitted to reallocate its resources to invest in areas our community needs most. But none of this will be possible without making the tough decisions needed to preserve Sharon Hospital.

I believe that Sharon Hospital and Nuvance Health are acting responsibly in proposing to close the under-used Labor & Delivery unit, so we can continue meeting the wide array of needs shown by patients in our region. I support Sharon Hospital’s work to survive the challenges facing hospitals across the country and enhance the services we provide.

Sabooh Mubbashar, MD

Sharon

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