Three groups of pediatricians in the Utica, N.Y., area have decided to resign their privileges from Faxton St. Luke's Healthcare and send their patients to Syracuse, N.Y., for care after noting "severe, disturbing and extremely dangerous" issues in Faxton St. Luke's emergency department, according to the Observer-Dispatch.
In March, a group of 10 physicians signed and sent a letter to the medical director and the president and CEO of Utica-based Mohawk Valley Health System, the parent company of Faxton St. Luke's, detailing concerns with care in the emergency department. "It is only a matter of time until a tragedy occurs to a child because of careless, indifferent care being given by an ED provider," the letter reads.
Then in May, Utica Pediatrics sent a letter to patients declaring the group's intention to discontinue privileges at Faxton St. Luke's as of July 1. The letter also stated that Utica Pediatrics, Sauquoit Valley Pediatrics and Slocum Dickson Medical Group Pediatrics — which all share call responsibilities — would not admit any patients to MVHS hospitals.
"We arrived at this decision after much deliberation and after many years of great thought and discussion," according to the letter.
Earlier this month, Dawn Bard, MD, sent a final letter to the medical executive committee and board of directors of MVHS, detailing examples of dangerous care in the ED and the hospital's lack of response, and stating that she and other pediatricians plan to send their patients to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse.
In a press briefing Monday covered by WIBX, MVHS president and CEO Scott Perra said when the March letter was received, the hospital started responding to the issues raised in the letter immediately.
In a statement given to the Observer-Dispatch, Michael Trevisani, MD, senior vice president and CMO of MVHS, and Eric Yoss, MD, senior vice president and chief of quality for MVHS, said, "Our patients, their families, our physicians, nurses and support staff all benefit from improved communication and the ability to work through issues and concerns together. We have a formal process for complaints that we receive, which includes investigation of the complaint and follow-up with the patient and/or family."