Children’s Hospital Bankruptcy: Parents worried; staff reassured

With all the turmoil between the El Paso Medical Center and El Paso Children’s Hospital including the bankruptcy filing of Children’s Hospital — what about the doctors and the patients?

The declaration of bankruptcy has parents worried while doctors say the move is for the better.

Hospital officials have often said the turmoil will not affect patients and staff.

Vanessa Magdaleno told ABC-7 she was happy when she heard that El Paso Children’s Hospital will be opening it’s doors.

“I was very thrilled because I knew he was going to get the services he deserves,” said Magdaleno.

Magdaleno’s son Juan was born premature and has dealt with health complications since birth.

Juan and his mother have visited Children’s Hospital for 2 years. Every month he gets treated for a chronic lung disease.

“I just love El Paso Childrens it’s the best service he’s had so far,” said Madaleno.

With news of the bankruptcy making headlines all day, Magdaleno worries.

“It’s scary. It’s scary and very upsetting and I’m wondering if the services they are going to be providing will be the same with the quality and the amount of nurses or the staff they provide right now,” said Magdaleno.

Magdaleno tells ABC-7 she’s had long waits and less than desirable services at other hospitals.

But doctors at Children’s say not to worry.

“Believe it or not the medical staff preferred this option,” said Medical Director of Radiology, Chetan Moorthy.

Moorthy said the hospital will be able to provide the same great services everyone has come to expect.

It’s a feeling he says the staff wasn’t sure of if UMC would have control of Childrens.

“As the process went on most of us felt a little more anxious about getting into a partnership with a hospital that most of us didn’t trust,” said Moorthy.

As for Magdaleno she doesn’t see dollars and partnerships she hopes for a better future for her son.

“I hope they get through this. I hope they resolve their issues whether if it’s with UMC or anybody else but I would really like for them to provide the services that they do,” said Magdaleno.

Moorthy tells ABC-7 since the issues between UMC and Childrens arose,
they had to pull back on recruitment for new doctors and specialists.
But he says the hospital can’t stay bankrupt forever and providing more programs
for new doctors will eventually make a comeback.