By Jay Lawson
Councilman Mike Ross commended local emergency volunteer Dave Berkstresser for a fine letter that appeared in The Weekly Adirondack’s edition of April 9th, which highlighted issues relating to a local shortage of emergency response volunteers.
“A wonderful article, and I support [the effort] one-hundred-percent,” he said. “It’s obvious that we have to address this…and I thank him for that article, and [appreciate] the efforts of all those who are working on it.”
Ross did however disagree with Berkstresser’s description of the recent operational changeover at the Old Forge’s health center as “hasty.”
The Town Board actually worked long and hard to maintain the facility and the community’s health care services, according Ross.
Mary Brophy Moore supported Ross’s account.
“There were literally years of hard work that went into trying to resolve what was an inevitable ending to the way [the health center] worked,” she said.
Everybody would like an emergency room, but that was never going to happen, Ross said.
And the Town Board was not equipped to operate the facility under today’s conditions, according to Council-man J.B. Herron.
The transition as handled, by bringing in a hospital group, did allow the building to be made Article 28 compliant, according to Supervisor Riehle.
That was a huge effort and a major positive during a time of instability, he said.
“We were under some pressure to make sure that we had some type of health care in town,” Riehle said.
“I don’t regret the decision,” said Councilwoman Moore. “I’ve been very happy with the health care for myself and the people that I’ve heard from.”
She reminded every that when the Town was running the health center, very few insurance plans were accepted.
“A lot of people went to other places, and that’s really unfortunate, because now [St. Elizabeth’s] accepts everything, any insurance. People are surprised to learn that,” Moore said.
Moore added that she hopes people continue discovering some of these positive changes at the health center and return for their care and convenience.