A Local Doctor Reacts to St. Mark’s News
To the Editor:
Hi, Dr Shannon Juno speaking! Many of you have likely heard the news that St Mark’s hospital will no longer provide surgical and inpatient services after this week. This abrupt change came as a surprise to us as we had surgical procedures scheduled at the St Mark’s surgery department into next month. We have been forced to cancel those procedures as we contemplate our choices and how we will proceed as a medical practice.
This will be the second time that the local hospital has forced major changes in my professional life. The decision to close maternity services over five years ago put me in a position where I inevitably had to give up obstetrics prematurely in my career. Believe me I tried to make things work however as an OB GYN I must have a nearby hospital to function efficiently day to day. Without surgical services in La Grange we will face tough decisions once again.
I can tell you that I have found options in the general area where I should be able to continue to offer many of the gyn procedures that I have performed for the past 22 years of my career. At this time things are in flux but we are working on solutions. I will continue to offer gynecological care locally and will find a surgical center as close to La Grange as possible to continue to offer outpatient gyn surgical services.
I am not near retirement age and have a strong desire to continue to practice gynecology in La Grange. Unfortunately a major barrier to this plan is the staggering no show and last minute reschedule rate for visits over the past few months. If you enjoy receiving women’s care in La Grange and would like that to continue long term, I ask you to please keep your scheduled appointments.
We have no plans to leave the area but please keep in mind that patient visits are our main source of income. Like any small business our income must cover our expenses such as mortgage, supplies, employee salaries, etc.
Thank you for your support. We are still here and will do everything in our power to stay put. I am accepting new patients.