Rhode Island House Republicans
  • Home
  • Reports
    • FY 2026 Budget and Policy Priorities Report
    • Minority Report >
      • 2023 Minority Report
      • 2022 Minority Report
      • 2020/2021 Minority Report
      • 2019 Minority Report
    • Gaming Contract >
      • Gaming Study Report
    • State of the State >
      • 2020 State of the State
      • 2022 State of the State
      • 2024 State of the State
  • Representatives
    • Michael W. Chippendale
    • David J. Place
    • Richard R. Fascia
    • Marie A. Hopkins
    • George A. Nardone
    • Brian C. Newberry
    • Christopher G. Paplauskas
    • Robert Quattrocchi
    • Sherry Roberts
    • Paul M. Santucci
  • Alumni
  • News & Media
  • Contact Us
    • Media Contact
    • Caucus Staff
    • Interns
    • Group Visits
The Latest News and Media From the
Rhode Island House of Representatives Republican Caucus

Administrative actions at Zam leading to “shadow closure”

3/4/2021

Comments

 
News | Printer Friendly View
Senator de la Cruz, Representative Place call on hospital to keep doors open
State House, Providence – As they continue to fight to keep the Zambarano Unit of Eleanor Slater Hospital open, Senate Minority Whip Jessica de la Cruz, (R-Dist. 23, Burrillville, Glocester, North Smithfield) and Representative David J. Place, (R-Dist. 47, Burrillville, Glocester) have received explosive confirmation of the rumors the state intends to close the skilled care facility, and to discharge patients unable to receive care anywhere else.
The legislators are calling for both the House and Senate oversight committees to convene hearings on these troubling accusations. They are further calling on the BHDDH administration to freeze all discharges. Additionally, they want administrators to cease efforts to make “qualifying for care” at Zambarano impossible for everyone – including current residents.

“All this time BHDDH claimed the inability to bill was based on ‘patient census issues.’ Dr. Decelles’s comments about failure of the agency to create medical records systems calls into question the BHDDH administration’s integrity,” Representative Place said.

Dr. Decelles penned a detailed, open letter describing the “numerous falsehoods … which make it necessary to write,” the doctor said. “I wish to address allegations and judgments by some hospital administrators that Zambarano is not necessary, that current patients should never have been admitted, that those admitted were not properly vetted, and that patients must now leave because they fail newly-developed hospital ‘criteria for admission.’”

With funding gone, hospital administration “wanted 100% of patients discharged by June 2020.” With just 85 patients left, the doctor said the drop in patient census at Zambarano is due to the lack of new admissions and deaths.

“It is not a reflection of the lack of need for our services in RI. Very appropriate candidates for admission are now frozen in Rhode Island’s acute hospital beds with no discharge options,” the doctor said.  Further, staff is being reduced at the facility to the point where there will soon not be enough physicians on staff to care for the patients.

“My other concern is there is so much we don’t know because we aren’t being told – they’re letting staff go – they’ve laid off one doctor, more are retiring…they will be down to two physicians to manage the whole population,” Decelles said.

De la Cruz and Place said they are eager to work with the McKee administration to keep Zambarano patients where they belong, and will continue communicating with the department and the governor to find solutions.

-30-
You can view Dr. Normand Decelles, Jr., M.D. Letter in entirety at
http://www.rihousegop.org/news-media/dr-normand-l-decelles-jr-md-letter
Picture

​LIKE THIS PAGE? SHARE IT WITH OTHERS

Comments

    nEWS & Media


    All News
    2024 Legislation
    Infographics
    Member Opinions
    News Releases
    Podcasts
    The Right Move
    Video Updates

    stAY CONNECTED


    Sign up below to receive the latest News & Media from the Rhode Island House Republican Caucus sent directly to your inbox. 
    * indicates required



    ​FIND NEWS 


    ​SOCIAL MEDIA


    Facebook
    X
    YouTube
    Instagram
    RSS Feed: News & Media

Learn More About Us


  • Representatives
  • News & Media
  • Contact Us
  • Media Resources​

Constituent Services


  • Constituent Relations 
  • Find Your Representative
  • Visiting the Capitol
  • Internships​

​​State Government


  • Rhode Island General Assembly
  • Bill Information
  • Rhode Island General Laws
  • Rhode Island State Constitution
  • State Agencies
  • Governor’s Office
  • Lt. Governor’s Office
  • Secretary of State’s Office
  • Attorney General's Office
  • Treasurer’s Office
  • Rhode Island Courts

About rhode island house republicans


​In 1636, Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, established the first working model of Democracy after being banished from Massachusetts for his “extreme views” concerning freedom of speech and religion. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams publicly acknowledged Williams as the originator of these concepts, along with the freedom of public assembly, in the First Amendment in the United States Constitution. Today, Rhode Island House Republicans uphold the liberties designed by our Founders and preserved in our Constitution, and are the primary legislative body promoting lean government, fighting for lower taxes, and advocating for initiatives and policies that improve the economy and in turn, the lives of Rhode Islanders.  As members of a part-time assembly, we are small business owners, retired educators, community activists, lawyers, farmers, military service veterans, volunteers, former local officials, retired social workers, coaches, musicians, churchgoers and board directors -- bringing these community engagement and professional experiences to our work, on your behalf, at the Rhode Island State House.

​2025 Rhode Island State House Republicans | 82 Smith Street, Room 106 Providence, RI 02903 | 401..222..2259 | Email Us
  • Home
  • Reports
    • FY 2026 Budget and Policy Priorities Report
    • Minority Report >
      • 2023 Minority Report
      • 2022 Minority Report
      • 2020/2021 Minority Report
      • 2019 Minority Report
    • Gaming Contract >
      • Gaming Study Report
    • State of the State >
      • 2020 State of the State
      • 2022 State of the State
      • 2024 State of the State
  • Representatives
    • Michael W. Chippendale
    • David J. Place
    • Richard R. Fascia
    • Marie A. Hopkins
    • George A. Nardone
    • Brian C. Newberry
    • Christopher G. Paplauskas
    • Robert Quattrocchi
    • Sherry Roberts
    • Paul M. Santucci
  • Alumni
  • News & Media
  • Contact Us
    • Media Contact
    • Caucus Staff
    • Interns
    • Group Visits