To the Editor:

I have a major concern and discomfort with the Cleveland Clinic – Medina Hospital decision to close and remove birthing service in Medina effective July 1, 2017. This decision is based only on a business management focus and does not view the negative results that will affect Medina County residents and public safety.

Generally, birthing may be the only positive, happy service that a hospital provides. Local birthing service offers quicker access and safety. This service provides comfort in being close to home and family, and assists with public safety availability.

The negative results of this decision will affect all Medina County communities and residents.

The decision can and will affect public safety. Emergency Medical Services will have transports that will reduce their availability to respond to other emergencies. Many EMS services in this county are volunteer services. When transporting birthing patients, EMS will spend much more time far away from their service area. This creates longer time of unavailability, and will require mutual aid, which will increase response time.

Many years ago, Medina Hospital was named Medina Community Hospital. The focus was to provide health care to Medina County residents with a quick access location and comfort while remaining close to home and family. Now it appears that the hospital’s focus is to transfer patients to other Cleveland Clinic hospitals that have and want more specific patients, or to place focus on reduction of staffing.

This hospital needs to place trust and faith in our local physicians who will determine and identify the patients that need higher levels of birthing service. They can and will refer those patients to the proper hospital. Those patients that can and want to stay close to home and family will. If now there is a major problem with birth, Medina Hospital should increase the level of birthing service. This will increase the volume of patients and resolve their concern.

Gene Sulzener

Seville