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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — College of Michigan Well being-West instructed sufferers it’s closing a rheumatology program because of lengthy wait instances and lack of entry. In an inside e mail obtained by Information 8, the medical group president described a “damaged” specialty and described a division struggling to work with the group.
The middle, positioned at 4055 Cascade Rd. SE in Grand Rapids, will shut on Oct. 31. The medical group revealed the information to sufferers in a letter dated July 15.
Debbie Bukovietski of Kentwood has seen rheumatologists the world over for practically 50 years. When she heard the U-M Well being-West rheumatology program would shut, she couldn’t imagine it.
“I used to be heartbroken,” Bukovietski instructed Information 8. “I used to be heartbroken as a result of this specific physician group … is wonderful.”
“They pay attention properly,” she went on to say. “They’ve labored with me, properly with my daughter, and I do know different sufferers who’ve been there.”
After a report published on Sept. 19, Information 8 has heard from a number of different sufferers and employees members upset over the choice. One employees member despatched Information 8 an inside e mail that medical group president Raki Pai wrote to his colleagues. One other employee confirmed the word’s authenticity.
Within the e mail, Pai acknowledged the potential ramifications of the closure.
“Regrettably, this may have an antagonistic impression on Rheumatologic affected person care in our group,” Pai wrote. “Will probably be disruptive for our sufferers. Simply know, these challenges made this resolution extremely troublesome, however it’s the proper resolution for the group.”
Rheumatologists do important work for sufferers, treating autoimmune and inflammatory illnesses that may have an effect on joints, muscle tissues, tendons, blood vessels, the pores and skin and extra. It’s therapy that may final all through folks’s lives.
Bukovietski stated that rheumatology is “notoriously underfunded.” She added that discovering a very good physician is crucial as a result of it’s somebody sufferers see for a very long time.
“That’s the factor about rheumatologists: they’re not only one and finished … they’re with you for this lengthy slog for this lengthy journey,” Bukovietski stated.
EMAIL: ‘WE STRUGGLED TO FIND COMMON GROUND’
Notably, Pai stated, “we struggled to seek out frequent floor and compromise in working along with the division.”
“As we carry new scientific providers to our system, these new service strains will work greatest when management, major care and specialty care physicians work carefully collectively to help our established well being system sufferers,” Pai wrote.
In a press release earlier this week, a spokesperson for the medical group instructed Information 8 the choice to shut “turned vital because of lengthy wait instances resulting in an absence of entry.”
“All choices at UM Well being-West are primarily based on what’s greatest for our sufferers,” the spokesperson stated.
Within the inside e mail, Pai referred to as Rheumatology a “damaged medical specialty” with not sufficient physicians to satisfy excessive demand. He stated new sufferers needed to wait “many months to a 12 months to be seen.”
“As lots of , it is a difficult time for Rheumatology throughout the nation and in west Michigan,” Pai wrote.
Bukovietski doesn’t agree with the logic of closing this system.
“I don’t see how lengthy wait instances means let’s simply shut the entire thing down,” she stated. “It looks like a particularly illogical response to me to close down a clinic of rheumatologists.”
Pai instructed his colleagues he acknowledges “that is troublesome information to obtain.” However with these challenges over the past 4 years, Pai stated they don’t see a viable path ahead for the clinic. He additionally assured employees that no additional clinic or service line closures are deliberate.
The medical group instructed Information 8 it’s connecting sufferers with different suppliers. It’s additionally preserving all present appointments main as much as Oct. 31.
“If sufferers have one other desire, we are going to assist them join with different packages that additionally can be found within the area,” the spokesperson stated. “Within the meantime, we’re coordinating communication between sufferers, their major care suppliers, and with their most popular rheumatology supplier to make sure a seamless referral course of. We’re working diligently to offer readability and to make sure a heat transition for each affected person.”
The group’s infusion middle will stay open, persevering with to offer that service for Rheumatology sufferers and others.
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