Just 18 months ago, Madera Community Hospital celebrated 50 years. The highlight of the celebration was the Anniversary Video. The video, featured several physicians sharing their journey to Madera. These stories of relocating from New York, Texas and other states all have one common thread; the doctors moved here to be part of the Madera Community Hospital. The video can be found on www.MaderaHospital.org — search “50th Anniversary Video.” The closure of Madera Community Hospital in having an unintended consequence for our doctors, Patients needing emergency services are transported to another community and when released from the hospital. Madera County residents are being referred to physicians and surgeons outside of Madera. The physicians who have been practicing in Madera for years are reporting patients leaving their care. After years of providing loyal service, their patients are establishing physician care in a community with hospitals. Your local physician knows you best will continue to provide you with quality care and refer you to a hospital when your medical symptoms or condition requires acute care services. We lost our hospital. Let’s not lose our doctors. Make sure you have a local Primary Care Doctor; Family Practice, Internal Medicine, or Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN). Madera has several doctors taking new patients. Be certain to keep all your medical appointments. Your doctor will provide treatment plans to reduce your risk of unplanned hospitalization or schedule your procedure at a surgical center or neighboring hospital. If you have a medical emergency, call 911. The regional Emergency Management Services system has stationed ambulances in Madera County. Their average arrival time, to the call location has not markedly increased post Madera Community Hospital’s closure. If you use an Emergency department or Hosipital, it is important you attend the follow-up visit with your primary care provider who will ensure your treatment and recovery plan is managed. If you live in Madera, Chowchilla or surrounding neighborhoods, navigating our community is more convenient and less expensive than traveling outside of the County for follow-up care. When you need diagnostic testing, a procedure or hospitalization, your local doctor will make the referral for you. This has not changed. Community Physicians their specialty and contact information are still found on the website: www.MaderaHospital.org/find-a-physician

— Appreciatively, Karen Paolinelli, MSN, FNP-C, PA-C, RN DFAAPA, Chief Executive Officer