Pocono News Section

Poconos Therapy Office to Shut Down

Poconos Therapy Office to Shut Down - Monday, February 25, 2008 at 4:48PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Monday, Feb 25, 2008 @04:48pm EST
STROUD TOWNSHIP - Emma Palys is three years old. Her mom Bridget Palys said the toddler speaks at the level of a two year old - and she's happy about that. Last year at this time, Emma could hardly speak at all. But then Bridget brought her daughter to Pocono Outpatient Therapy.

Pocono Medical Center officials say they will close that office in April. One reason, it's hard to find physical therapists.

Palys said, "She's very attached to her Speech Therapist so I'm hoping that I can find someplace else to go."

Hospital Spokesperson Anthony Matrisciano said, "We felt the best use of the resources we did have - the staff and what not - was to move them to inpatient to meet that demand where our outpatient volume was actually decreasing."

Hospital officials sent a letter to patients that says they're sorry they have to close the office but they will try to help patients find a new place. Matrisciano said, "Give us a call if you're having trouble finding another place and we will help you find someplace else."

But patients complained even though they might find a new office, it won't include the same therapists. Pamela Mitchell called the staff "a family" that helps her daughter Megan who has Cerebral Palsy.

"I don't think they even considered the human side. I think basically it was bottom line. It was money," said Mitchell.

Geraldine Fratangelo agrees. The change could force her to drive hundreds of extra miles a week to get treatment. "They're shutting this place down, they should be ashamed of themselves," she said.

Geraldine credits the staff here with saving her legs when she had complications from Diabetes. She declared, "I would go knocking door to door for donations for this clinic."

Matrisciano said the hospital checked with 19 other rehab facilities in the area before deciding to close. Those facilities said they would be able to take most of Pocono's patients.

Five of the six therapists who work at Pocono Outpatient will be transferred to the Main Hospital. One person will be laid off.