Patients Speak Out: Bon Secours Liver Institute Office Closure Sparks Concern

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – Individuals receiving treatment at Bon Secours' Liver Institute of Hampton Roads in Newport News are expressing frustration following the announcement that the facility will be closing and consolidating operations with another Bon Secours location in Richmond.

Each year, over 42,000 new instances of liver cancer are identified within the U.S., highlighting the critical importance of consistent, regular medical attention. Nonetheless, individuals residing in eastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina could face greater challenges accessing this essential care due to an upcoming facility shutdown.

In 2019, Miranda Frazier received a diagnosis of liver cancer and underwent a transplant operation in 2021. She attributes her survival to Dr. Mitchell Shiffman, who identified indications of organ rejection at an initial stage.

Throughout the treatment process, circumstances deteriorated quickly," Frazier stated. "Dr. Shiffman accompanied me at each stage. Despite my denial, he managed to outline precisely what would occur.

However, since Bon Secours revealed last week that they would be shutting down their Liver Institute in Newport News and merging operations with the facility in Richmond, both Frazier and other patients will face an even longer journey. This increased travel distance has led some people to think it might not be feasible for everyone involved.

You only visit a hepatologist if you're having problems with your liver," explained David Vest, another resident of Manteo, North Carolina. "The extra hour needed to travel to Richmond might make it difficult for them to manage going that distance multiple times a week.

Vest has been under Dr. Shiffman's care for approximately one year now.

I suffer from a rare illness, an extremely uncommon condition," Vest stated. "They were the only ones capable of diagnosing it.

When he queried the staff about the reason for closing, they informed him that they weren't aware of the cause.

The only explanation I can come up with is that Bon Secours administrators receive bonuses for reducing expenses," Vest stated. "While this might seem logical, it doesn’t add up if they're cutting costs to shut down operations that are profitable.

He mentioned that until the office closes on June 30, the Liver Institute remains the sole local facility specializing in liver-related concerns.

I'm simply baffled," Vest stated. "I feel disturbed. This isn’t fair at all.

Frazier stated, "My desire is for others to experience the positive result that I had. I also wish for other patients to have access to transplants and receive the same quality of care that I received."

In a statement, Bon Secours mentioned that they frequently assess the most effective ways to cater to their patients' needs while also acting as prudent managers of their healthcare organization’s resources and mission.

Bon Secours consistently assesses the most effective ways to address the requirements of our community and patients, all while functioning as prudent caretakers of our healthcare mission and its assets.

Following thorough deliberation, we have made the decision to shut down the Bon Secois Liver Institute of Hampton Roads as of June 30. In order to guarantee that our patients keep receiving adequate care, we've promptly informed all relevant parties and are collaborating closely with them during this changeover period. Our team remains committed to aiding our patients in transitioning their care to healthcare providers within and beyond our network; this includes facilitating record transfers and scheduling consultations among practitioners.

Bon Secours is completely dedicated to assisting our impacted patients by ensuring continuous care, open lines of communication, and persistent support throughout this procedure.

— Declaration from Bon Secours

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