First of all: Thank you for your service to all the staff members at the Baker City St. Alphonsus Hospital!

Secondly: “BOO” to the corporation administration of St. Alphonsus and to Trinity Health Care Corporation located in Michigan! Shame on your concept of “do no harm” known as the Hippocratic Oath of Health Care! Read it again!

Last but not least: I would request the courtesy of an explanation as to why St. Alphonsus management spokesperson would not express why nine obstetrical nurses “are required” to staff Baker City St. Alphonsus maternity center in order to remain open through August 26, 2023. “We need three more federal nurses to keep Baker City birth center open.” Baker City Herald issue Tuesday, August 15, 2023. I commend the Baker County Commission for the county’s commitment of $500,000 for bringing in the six federal obstetrical nurses to help provide 6 more months of maternity care available for the community and the future safe local deliveries!

One further comment or question: With the closure of the ICU in January and the pending closure of maternity unit, what comes next? The closure of the emergency department and admits from the ER doctors’ diagnosis of needed care, and who will provide the admission and care of those classified patients?

Come on now, tell the truth. St. Alphonsus corporation and corporation head office did not want to buy Baker City St. Elizabeth Hospital back in the earlier 2004-6 transaction, when they were courting the purchase of two hospitals in Ontario and Nampa! You don’t get those two without the third, so the story goes. Check it out!

Cheryl Gushman

Baker City