The following is an ad in the January 28, 2015 edition of The Era-Leader newspaper from St. Tammany Parish Hospital regarding Family Medical Clinic of Franklinton
January 28, 2015
To Our Washington Parish Patients and Families,
We are sad to report that St. Tammany Parish Hospital must end operation of Family Medical Clinic when our current agreement expires October 27, 2015. Our mission is to deliver world-class healthcare to our patients, close to home, and operation of the clinic through employment of Drs. Berthelot, James, Foret and Battles has been a perfect example of that mission.
All Family Medical Clinic patients should rest assured that while our ability to operate the clinic may end, our commitment to the mission will not. Each patient under our care will receive notification of their physician's new office location as soon as possible.
We have worked for months to secure a resolution that would enable St. Tammany Parish Hospital to continue caring for the community in Family Medical Clinic on Riverside Drive in Franklinton, as we have since 2003. While we were successful in securing a five-year extension from the Washington Parish Council, we were not able to secure an agreement with Riverside Medical Center. We are saddened for the people who live and work in Franklinton and throughout Washington Parish to lose this convenient location.
The St. Tammany Parish Hospital family takes pride in treating our patients as family too. We thank the Washington Parish Council and the residents of the Franklinton area for their tremendous support of Family Medical Clinic for more than a decade. And we ask each of our patients to be attuned to hear from us regarding their doctor's relocation.
Sincerely,
Patti Ellis, STPH President/CEO Dr. Libeau Berthelot Dr. Mark James Dr. Chris Foret Dr. Caroline Battles
Definitely a loss for Franklinton ... looks like I'll be driving a little farther for my doctor's appointments!
ReplyDeleteThis really sucks for my family SMH :( we been seeing doctor James for years.
ReplyDeleteAll this is due to "a" doctor at RMH not wanting our Doctors in Franklintion. Seems like we would get a say in this. Guess we don't have a choice any more. We are being told what to do. You just thought you lived in America!
ReplyDeleteThis is bs. Riverside should be shut down not the family medical clinic. We should get a petition going. Some of us can't afford to go anywhere else. Assholes!
ReplyDeleteThis is all because ONE Dr at Riverside who is on a ego power trip and trying to take on more than one person can handle. RMC is a joke and always has been most of us already drove out of parish to get quality medical care. Rock on Alvarado and enjoy the power trip while it lasts
ReplyDeleteI started using Dr. Gerald Foret when he came to Franklinton in the early 1970's. I have used him & fellow doctors since then and will continue to use them no matter where they go. This is the BIGGEST mistake Riverside Medical has ever made. EVERY time my doctor has put me in the hospital or ordered test it has always been Riverside. I know the emergency room at Riverside has had a great change but EVERY time I have gone their it has been a BIG mistake. I meet with the director and told him so years ago. The last time I went to the emergency room was right after Katerina. I had a kidney removed one week before & Home Health was supposed to remove my staples but could not make it. I went to RIVERSIDE MEDICAL EMERGENCY ROOM and was turned away because I was not an emergency, went to a competitive hospital and was RUSHED in BEFORE the insurance papers were even filled out (was in server pain by then) and the staples were removed. I can tell you more but it will take to long. My family has been told under NO circumstances to take me to Riverside again. Patricia T. Lea
ReplyDeleteI have flown in from Germany & driven from Alabama many times over the years to go to FMC--driving to Folsom or Covington is no big deal. Riverside is sinking their own boat--though all Franklinton really needs is an urgent care facility, not a hospital that can't support itself.
ReplyDelete