During a community meeting June 6, Mr. Gordon reaffirmed the health system’s commitment to patients and the community, stating RGH “is a full-fledged hospital, a full-functioning hospital that is not going to close,” according to the report.
His statements come nearly three weeks after officials declared their intent to close RGH’s intensive care unit and said no surgeries would take place after 3 p.m. EST, in part due to low patient volumes.
“Shrinking is not the right way to look at it,” RGH Chief of Staff William Stallings, MD, said during the town hall meeting. “Changes have been going on for some time. We have a similar goal — how to best provide healthcare services for the community.”
Officials are reportedly considering the creation of a progressive care unit at the hospital. The unit will be used to stabilize patients waiting for transport to larger hospitals in the area, according to the report.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on June 22.
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