(Snippets from the frontline)
Loss of the TCU
The most detrimental loss to elder seniors in our community was the hospital closing the Transitional Care Unit (TCU). It served as a step-down unit so discharged seniors who were slow to recover would have a place for recuperation. The TCU gave them a better chance of returning home.
Primary care physicians could continue close monitoring in the TCU, and consultant doctors maintained a vigilance mindful of complications. Upon discharge, these patients were less likely to be re-admitted.
Once the hospital launched conveyor-belt treatment of patients, care was accelerated and the TCU concept was axed making way for more profitable acute hospital beds.
Now, after a diagnosis is made and treatment started, patients are immediately transferred to nursing homes (SNFs) most of them outside our valley away from family, friends, and their community.
Statistically, many of these patients remain in SNFs and die never returning to their home.
Seniors had picketed the hospital 5 consecutive months attempting to maintain the TCU. But closing the doors of the TCU also closed the door on the health and wellbeing of seniors in our valley.
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
Could you compare the costs with a table of side-by-side figures?
Lets see if this may be correct.
What has been forgotten in all the medical profession is (THE PATIENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON) and none of anything would be there if it were not for the PATIENT.