Signs claim NCH denies patients the right to choose their own physician

John McNally said he is happy to see 400 signs all around the downtown Naples area that oppose a NCH Healthcare System hospital’s new patient program.

“You have your right to do whatever you want, but they have the right to not allow your doctor,” McNally said. “You have a right to get out of that hospital and go somewhere else. They haven’t taken your rights away from you, they’re just making it very complicated.”

Others have said, they do not like the signs because the policy works in their favor.

We first told our viewers and readers last months that Naples Community Hospital is moving forward with a new program that stops patients from using outside doctors.

Only doctors employed by NCH can admit patients, give medical orders and add notes to the patients records.

Dr. Ron Garry, an independent physician, said the program would limit his interactions with his NCH patients.

“We’ve done nothing, but give outstanding care to this community,” Dr. Garry said. “Then to have the hospital just go ahead and take away our privileges for all the independent primary care docs and the independent hospitals. It’s just been very hard to swallow.”

NCH responded to the new model of care in response to comment from WINK News.

“Patients in the new model of care are having a better patient experience,” the hospital said, “[They] are having a shorter length of stay and are having a lower chance of being readmitted within 30 days.”

But McNally said regardless of those findings, he hopes the signs make more people understand its message of choice.

“I think people should have a choice,” McNally said, “not they shouldn’t be denying you the choice.”