During a recent government meeting, concerns were raised regarding the potential sale of OCH, a local hospital, amid ongoing challenges in the healthcare sector exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A speaker highlighted the nationwide struggle faced by hospitals, particularly in attracting and retaining staff due to rising wages for travel nurses, which have surged exponentially.

The speaker emphasized that if OCH were to proceed with a sale, it could lead to increased patient care costs, citing research from Harvard Business School indicating that prices in similar markets have risen by 6 to 10%. This potential rise in costs has become a significant concern for community members, who fear that the quality of patient care may decline as a result of the sale.

Additionally, the speaker pointed out that patient care often suffers in hospital acquisitions, urging decision-makers to prioritize maintaining or improving care standards during the evaluation of proposals from potential buyers. The importance of ensuring fair wages for hospital staff was also underscored, as the community seeks to retain quality healthcare services.

The meeting concluded with a call for thorough consideration of these issues as the government moves forward with the request for proposals (RFP) process for OCH, emphasizing the need for transparency and community engagement in the decision-making process.