I am a very proud employee of the Erlanger Health System, but I am also an individual who has experienced what it is like to have loved ones in need of exceptional mental healthcare. I have experience in seeing what happens to family members when they are turned away because the hospital did not feel it necessary to keep them, the illness was not “severe enough”.
The need for another mental health facility in our area is extremely important. I support Erlanger having the ability to build and operate a mental health facility with all that is in my soul.
I, to this day, know many who suffer from mental illness that cannot get the help they so greatly need and deserve. This is my personal opinion only, but one that I feel should count. The Parkridge appeal is an absolute slap in the face to this community and should be denounced by the great people of Chattanooga and surrounding area.
Jana Letner
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Parkridge Valley stacks patients in hallways due to overcrowding. I am sure that Parkridge enjoys making their hallways prime income. To oppose a mental health facility that would serve the greatly underserved speaks volumes about Parkridge Valley and Hospital.
The lack of access to treatment for mental illness is so grossly under the demand or need, I cannot imagine anyone opposing Erlanger’s proposed mental health facility. Even with Erlanger's proposed facility, we sill still be an underserved community with regard to access to mental health care.
Erlanger is already the primary receiver of patients for certificate of need evaluations, because they accept everyone. Erlanger is the regions primary trauma center and the place where government transports patients in government custody. There is so little access to mental health care a large majority of the mentally ill end up in government custody.
Erlanger must have a mental health facility for patients requiring in patient mental health care under certificate of need. It is simply unethical to undertreat this population.
I will never have an ounce of respect for Parkridge Hospital for attempting to stop the construction of a facility that would greatly benefit our community, and the quality of life for so many. It is causing distress for so many in the community, who felt hope when Erlanger announced the new facility.
Of course, we, the people, do have say in this matter and timing is everything.
The Tennessee Health Service and Development Agency accepts public comments in advance of voting actions. A letter is very effective and the entire board is allowed to read the comments. I plan to write another one and attend the meeting, because Parkridge Hospital is not meeting all the mental health needs for the community, and is stacking patients in the hallways. Then, has the audacity to claim that Erlanger's proposed mental health facility is not needed. It is very disingenuous, of Parkridge, really it is a huge lie motivated in greed.
We, the people, can be heard in this matter. The Health Services and Development Agency folks listen to all sides.
I was able to get my letter considered by emailing directly to the Tennessee Health and Development Services contact, another means is to fill out a form requesting to speak to the matter. My opinion is that the Health Services and Board really values public perspective and their experiences with local facilities, and what they know about the lack of access to mental health in the Chattanooga area.
This information is directly from the Tennessee.gov website, and it is how I contacted them. Any citizen may have a voice in this matter, our community and our right to speak up.
“Please send any comments to Mark Farber
Email: mark.farber@tn.gov
Attention: Mark Farber
502 Deaderick Street
Andrew Jackson Bldg., 9th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-2364 or Fax: (615) 741-9884”
I just checked the website for HSDA meetings and the agenda for September has not been posted. There is a little time to advocate for those cannot do this for themselves, write letters and be heard.
Let your voice be heard for better access to mental health care in Chattanooga. We probably should rent a bus and go to this hearing. There is a lot at stake. If Parkridge prevails in their mission of greed, our community loses a $25 million facility that will significantly expand mental health care in our community.
It is total shame the Partridge is not conveying truth and willing to harm an entire population of sick people for greed.
April Eidson
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The Chattanooga area is in dire need of a better option/choice for mental health care and, I'm sorry, but Parkridge is not living up to those means with Parkridge Valley.
I've seen firsthand with a family member the way things are done at Valley, and I was none too impressed. Without divulging too much info, let's just say they took a small problem, fueled the fire with a medication against our pleas not to do that, and made it an even bigger problem without even treating the actual issue at hand. So now we had mental health issues and an addict, just as we said we would. Great job, guys.
Then that bigger problem they created landed this family member in their ICU later for an overdose...to which they sent them home in withdrawals. No offer to admit to Valley was ever made. When we asked, they said "Valley is currently at capacity. It's a two week wait." So we were left to deal with their mess.
That situation is only a very, very, very brief outline of what happened. The full details involved so many questionable treatments and practices on the part of the Parkridge system that I'm quite sure if we were the lawsuit happy type -- we'd have a sure win.
We need more options and we need better options. If I'm severely sick and need to go to the ER, I can choose between several area hospitals. Shouldn't we be able to do that with a mental health care facility? Point blank, the whole issue (to me) just looks like a business issue, and Parkridge is afraid they might lose a couple of greenbacks at the hand of big, bad, Erlanger.
Chattanooga and the surrounding area deserve this facility and better access to mental health care, and any company (or hospital) that tries to deny us that is just doing a disservice to their community all in the name of greed. You can ensure I won't forget our dealings with Parkridge...and you can bet I won't discount this little showing out either when I need to choose a health care provider.
Logan Carmichael