Editor, OBSERVER:

In a recent article about Brooks Memorial Hospital (Aug. 10), there was a confusing statement concerning Westfield Memorial Hospital.

In the article, readers were told, “Brooks is on the cusp of a partnership with Westfield Memorial Hospital.”

In actuality, Lake Erie Medical Services, a for-profit physician organization that is associated with Brooks Hospital, is currently discussing physician opportunities with Westfield Memorial Hospital so that patients in the region do not have to travel out of town for care.

As an affiliate of Saint Vincent Hospital, Erie, Pa., and the Allegheny Health Network, Westfield Memorial Hospital is committed to keeping health care in the local community. A Lake Erie Medical Services partnership will specifically allow women of the community access to ob/gyn services at Westfield Memorial Hospital.

According to Patty Ballman, administrator at Westfield Memorial Hospital, the facility is very excited about this relationship with Lake Erie Medical Services and the opportunity to provide the community with local access to vital health care services.

Westfield Memorial Hospital remains committed to providing appropriate health care supported by the community and we believe that bringing specialty physicians to the hospital to provide that care is what is best for our community. Westfield Memorial Hospital currently provides community access to surgical specialties, endoscopy, cardiology, orthopedics and wound care. In addition, the hospital operates a 24/7 Emergency Department, inpatient unit, full-service imaging, cardiac diagnostics and several other critical community programs.

Ballman also notes Westfield Memorial is “continually looking for opportunities to improve access to care locally as well as provide seamless transition when patients need to leave the area for higher levels of care.”

CYNDY PATTON,

media specialist,

Saint Vincent Hospital and Allegheny Health Network,

Erie, Pa.