Employees, patients welcome Sutter decision

Employees and patients at Sutter Medical Center were elated over Tuesday’s news that the Santa Rosa hospital would remain open, but some remained concerned that the Sacramento-based health corporation would scale back its medical services in Sonoma County.

“I don’t want to put a damper on the good news, but we are reserving judgment until we see how Sutter will function in the future,” said Mary O’Brien, a nurse in the intensive care unit for children. “Overall, we are delighted that patients will continue to have a home hospital.”

In the pharmacy, it was a party.

When 16-year Sutter pharmacist Jeff Cox walked into work at about noon Tuesday, the staff was hiding from him before they jumped out with the news.

“It was like a surprise party,” Cox said. “They blew noise makers and everybody had party hats on.”

“It’s like a family reunion. People feel they can stick around as a group,” he said.

Another employee, certified nursing aide Betty Nichols, said staff members were ecstatic when they received word early Tuesday that Sutter would not close the hospital.

“We have been dancing, we have been singing and we are planning a party this weekend,” said Nichols, who works in the cardiac care unit.

Underneath the exuberance, staff members echoed nurse O’Brien’s caution, wondering under what circumstances they’ll be working soon, including whether staff who’ve moved on will have a chance to come back, or whether fill-in staff will be hired.

Sutter announced plans to close its Santa Rosa hospital more than a year ago but never succeeded in negotiating an agreement with Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital to take over Sutter’s county contract to provide medical services to the indigent.

Patients interviewed Tuesday at the Chanate Road hospital welcomed the decision.

Virginia Rogers, on a post-operative visit following surgery to remove a cancerous growth from her nose, said she valued the hospital because it accepts her form of Health Net insurance coverage.

“I can truthfully say they treated me very, very well,” Rogers said. “I am glad they are not closing it. Where are we going to go?”

Another woman, Amy Jarvis, said Sutter’s decision meant she and her husband, Jon Jarvis, who just had lathroscopic surgery to treat a hernia, would not have to switch doctors.

Their doctor is affiliated with Sutter and they faced having to change physicians or leave the county for medical services because he doesn’t practice at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, the only other local facility that takes her form of PacifiCare insurance.

“It does kind of fix a problem that we had of finding a new doctor,” she said. “I was worried that I would have to go to Novato or San Francisco.”