Patients, doctors, and community concerned about South County Hospital

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WLNE) — Patients, doctors, and members of the community have voiced their concern with the level of care at South County Hospital at a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Narragansett Library.

The group called for leadership changes at the hospital and said they believe recent management decisions have threatened to erode its future and quality of care.

“We still have a robust hospital that provides high quality care at the moment, maybe with some exceptions, but we lost our radiation oncologist and someone is working part time,” Dr. Steven Fera said. “We are losing the Oncology Department.”

Physicians said there is a lack of support in relationships between executive leadership and providers, with the recent resignations in the cancer center staff highlighting that divide.

A spokesperson for South County Health released the following statement:

We are saddened that south county health’s exceptional quality of care continues to be misrepresented in our community. Due to these misrepresentations, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Rhode Island Department of Health conducted a comprehensive two-day investigation of the South County Health. We are pleased to report CMS and RIDOH completed their investigation stating, “No deficient practice was identified.” In other words, there was no merit found to validate the misrepresentations that are being circulated.

South County Health is also expected to hold a presser on Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. as well as a live community forum on YouTube on Sept. 16.

Leaders from the healthcare system are expected to answer questions.