William Wnuk, MD sent the following letter to local newspapers in regards to Bertrand Chaffee Hospital’s award through the New York State Department of Health.
To the Editor:
Bertrand Chaffee Hospital’s recent award of $11.3 million from New York State’s Department of Health represents a significant investment of taxpayer dollars in our community. For the medical staff of our facility, it represents something else. That is, that our progress and plans have been recognized as meaningful and worthy of funding.
Health outcomes for individual patients and community at large are a priority for us as medical practitioners. This award will reinforce the work that we are doing to develop primary care, specialist practices and imaging services at our campus.
The direction of healthcare has been leading towards an emphasis on preventive care. Bertrand Chaffee Hospital stepped out on that path in 2010 with the introduction of primary care services. With providers caring for hundreds of patients each week, we are committed to continuing our significant role in the region’s health initiatives.
We’ve introduced a new phrase at the hospital and nursing home: #teamchaffee. It represents that we are all here, working together, to make sure the health of our patients is maintained and improved. As rural facilities like ours continue to face challenges, our efforts are being encouraged – not just by New York State, but by our patients and our community.
Thank you for being a part of a tradition of quality healthcare that will extend far into the future.
William Wnuk, MD
President, BCH Medical Staff
Medical Director and Physician, Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Primary Care Center