Wooster Community Hospital answers some frequently-asked patient questions.

Q: What can I do if my doctor wants to send me out of town for my care, but I want to come to Wooster Community Hospital?

A: This is a question that heard on a rather frequent basis. The response is as follows: The patient always has the right to choose where they receive their care. This is clearly stated in Medicare policy and rules, for example.

Should a patient find themselves in this situation - which can certainly be uncomfortable to deal with - they need to clearly express their wishes to their doctor. There are complaints from patients routinely that they are being told to go to hospitals 30, or even as much as 60 miles away. These are often facilities that are 1. Unfamiliar; 2. More expensive than Wooster Community Hospital; 3. Have much lower patient satisfaction ratings; and 4. Have lower quality of care statistics. This doesn't even include the inconvenience to the patient and their family to have to travel 30 miles or more, round trip, for something that is offered here in Wooster.

In the final analysis, it is the patients' right to choose where they receive their care. Many people get so aggravated over this that they simply ask for their medical records (which are electronic now) and choose a new physician who will honor their wishes. This happens on a regular basis and the patient should not feel intimidated or guilty as a result.

Should you ever require advice with this type of issue, feel free to ask Wooster Community Hospital for assistance. WCH believes you have the right to receive medical care where you choose. WCH also believes that by choosing to receive your care locally, it benefits your community as well.