In light of recent articles and concerned comments from readers, Sutter Lakeside Hospital is providing this letter to you.

Sutter Lakeside continues to be a full-service hospital, providing emergency services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through our Level IV trauma center; round-the-clock care for the critically ill in our intensive care unit (ICU); inpatient and outpatient surgical services, including endoscopy and joint replacement; home health services throughout our community; and obstetrical services including labor, birth, postpartum, and newborn care for mother and baby.

Sutter Lakeside Hospital has continued to invest in new patient safety and life saving technology, added or enhanced services, and upgraded our facility. For example, over the past few years we have:

• Opened a 28,000-square-foot wing including an expanded emergency department;

• Dedicated a state-of-the-art medical imaging services featuring a new CT scanner, MRI and digital mammography suite;

• Installed Picture Archival Communications Systems (PACS) filmless medical imaging, enabling physicians in different locations to quickly and easily access high quality images and simultaneously consult with one another;

• Launched “eMAP,” which uses barcode technology to better ensure safe delivery of medications;

• Implemented the eICU system, which enables specially trained physicians and nurses to use early warning software and advanced video and remote monitoring to keep an even closer eye on critical-care patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

• Began a hospitalist program – hospitalists are physicians who specialize in providing hospital-based care when asked to do so by the patient’s physician;

• Enjoyed steady growth of our outpatient medical services, including surgical procedures, laboratory, physical therapy, imaging, Family Medicine Clinic and our Upper Lake Community Health Clinic;

• Invested in improvements to our parking area, including a traffic “roundabout,” to facilitate a safer, more orderly flow of vehicles near patient care areas and the adjacent medical office buildings;

• Secured funding through the generosity of our community to implement mobile health services in 2009. Staffed by clinical experts, a new 37-foot mobile medical unit will travel to rural areas of Lake County delivering general medical care and preventative programs to qualifying residents without access to basic health care services.

Sutter Lakeside Hospital has continued to expand the outpatient services it provides to the community and is expanding its physician network. As an affiliate of the strong Sutter Health network in Northern California, we’ll continue to lead the transformation of health care to achieve the highest levels of quality, access and affordability.

Avery Schlesenberg is interim chief executive officer of Sutter Lakeside Hospital and Center for Health; Bill Kearney is chair of the hospital's board of directors.

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