On Friday, November 19, 2010, without any warning, nurses, patients, and staff at Lakeside Hospital in Bastrop, Texas received an early holiday surprise. The hospital was closed and all employees had lost their jobs. Patients were sent elsewhere or discharged. The only information was a sign on the door that said the hospital was closed. The Texas Department of State Health Services had not been notified about the closing, and the state agency did not find out until after it was done.
One former hospital employee explained the events that occurred on November 19: “Early this morning management came in and put the hospital on divert from any EMS traffic. Department managers were escorted off the premises, patient’s families were called to pick up their sick loved ones, and ER patients were told to leave and go to another hospital.” When Lakeside Hospital closed, five patients were taken to other area hospitals. Two patients that were in the emergency department at the time were taken care of and then sent home. … Read more →