What happened to Lehighton Hospital?

Dear Editor,

The other day while enjoying a cup of tea at the lunchroom, a stranger sat next to me and asked where the Lehighton Hospital was.

"Funny you should ask," I replied.

He looked at me rather quizzically and said, "What's so funny about that?"

I continued, "There is no more Lehighton hospital. There is a building there that the locals built many years ago with blood, sweat and tears, but no "Lehighton Hospital."

He said, "You act sort of irritated about this subject!"

"Rightfully so," I responded. "Several years ago I wrote a letter to the editor praising the hospital and its staff, but something happened recently. In fact, this Christmas holiday my wife was taken to the emergency room with symptoms of the flu. They sent her home after about an hour of prying, prodding and analyzing. Several hours later, she was taken back with a breathing problem, and again, after more of the same, she was admitted.

"I don't want to take all your time, because I see by your suitcase, you are probably in a hurry. Sir, we have been using the Lehighton Hospital for years (our first daughter was born there in 1957), and we have both had major surgeries in Lehighton Hospital. Something happened over there! The staff is almost all new, procedures are different, staff with computers on wheels look like robots, and the smiles are absent! In fact I went down to the cafeteria and it was vacant, except for one server!

"Sorry, you are probably in a hurry; here, I wrote down the directions. You will come to what is now called "Blue Mountain Health System!" Oh, by the way; if you have a minute when you get there, walk around to the front of the place where you will find several plaques with dates. Whisper a quiet thank you to those wonderful years of the Lehighton Hospital! Hey, have a good day sir, and stay healthy!"

Sincerely,

Richard M. Gross

Lehighton