County opposes Mercy cuts
JANESVILLE — The Rock County Board is not happy with Mercy Hospital’s decision to discontinue its Mercy in Motion, adult day care and inpatient hospice care programs.
The board Thursday night voted unanimously to send a resolution saying as such to Mercy and the county’s state legislators.
“It’s really inappropriate for a non-profit hospital to drop the items that supposedly weren’t making them any money,” said Supervisor Marv Wopat.
Mercy Health System said earlier this summer that it will discontinue Mercy in Motion, which provides Mercy patients with transportation to medical appointments. That announcement triggered community concern that other services would not be able to help the Mercy patients.
Mercy plans eventually to eliminate its hospice residence program, although it will continue to serve the two patients now in the program.
Mercy will continue to offer home hospice services to new patients, which is the preferred form of hospice care, Barb Bortner, Mercy’s vice president of marketing and public relations, has said.
Mercy also is cutting its adult day care program.
The education, veterans and aging services committee unanimously supported writing a request to Mercy not to cut the programs, said Larry Wiedenfeld, chairman of the committee.
“This health services and patient transportation was discontinued with very short notice,” Wiedenfeld said. “It has put pressure on our Council on Aging service.”
Wiedenfeld said the resolution is not intended to demand Mercy change its plan but rather to suggest it.
“We feel there have been senior citizens who have been inconvenienced greatly,” he said.
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Sep 27, 2008 at 5:21 p.m.
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marymac4---Did you give your child a pain reliever, ie. Tylenol or ibuprofen? Also, Walgreen's on Milton Ave is open 24/7.
Sep 27, 2008 at 4:45 a.m.
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There is a need for a better hospital also that cares about the patient and not what kind of insurance they have I am grateful we will have one soon! I just took a 7 year old to Mercy ER with a severe sore throat and asked them to also look at an infected sore on his foot that was deep red and hot to touch and was told by nurse his foot redness was from his shoe his shoe did not even touch the area and dr never looked at it.I WILL NOT TAKE THIS KID THERE AGAIN AND I WILL HAVE HIM SEEN BY ANOTHER FACILITY ASAP..... He was given an antibiotic rx but nothing at the ER to take until we could pick up the rx. they always gave a starting dose in the past, this surprised me as the little boy has to wait IN PAIN until his pharmacy is open. Must be part of cost saving cutbacks to do this also........... Im posting this now as the little guys is still crying and i cant sleep.4:44 am
Sep 26, 2008 at 8:49 a.m.
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Perfect opportunity for someone who has recently lost their job to start a business or businesses offering these services. If the county is in such an uproar over it, sounds to me like there must be a demand for the services.
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