The South County Health Board of Trustees (Board) affirms its commitment to maintaining South County Health (SCH) as Rhode Island’s highest quality health system that is both accessible and sustainable.

The departure of some physicians and related concerns have led to questions about the quality of patient care being delivered at SCH. Over the past few months, three separate agencies with jurisdiction (the Rhode Island Department of Health, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and The Joint Commission) have visited SCH and have found no basis in fact for such concerns. They each concluded that hospital operations continue to meet their high standards. Additionally, new physicians have been retained for those that resigned. (Learn more)

Separately, the Board has been engaged in an intensive, introspective review of operations.  That review has included medical care providers, community members, elected officials, and hospital staff to share factual information, receive critical employee feedback about the workplace environment, address questions and consider suggestions aimed at making your community hospital even better. As a result of our review, the Board has again expressed confidence in the ability of President and CEO Aaron Robinson and the Executive Leadership Team to continue to deliver on our mission of being Rhode Island’s Most Trusted Health Partner.

Coming out of the pandemic, health care systems nationwide faced increased financial challenges. In the current environment, SCH management, physicians, nurses, support staff, and volunteers have continued to deliver nationally recognized quality, safety, and patient experience results. Concurrently, management has also achieved critical board-directed financial objectives to sustain operations. Insufficient reimbursement has only compounded financial stresses for all health care systems in Rhode Island. That has required productivity improvements to reduce operating costs. Such adjustments can be difficult for all concerned.

From this review, the Board has recognized the importance of communicating more effectively with all stakeholders – community members, medical care providers and staff - as we navigate the challenges in Rhode Island.  Please know that your Board is committed to such ongoing engagement.

As Dr. Michael Bradley, President and CEO of Ortho Rhode Island, appropriately asked at the Community Forum on October 30th, “Are we ready to move on together?”  We hope that to be the case.

Thank you for your continued support,