Twenty-three area residents were issued letters last week informing them Wrangell Medical Center will no longer be offering its Call Care services after July 31.
The program helped primarily elderly residents, allowing them to summon help in the event of a fall or other medical emergency with a call device worn around the neck or on the wrist. Hospital staff would immediately respond to Call Care alarms by notifying a designated care provider to check on the participant in the home.
In a letter dated June 16, the hospital’s interim head Marla Sanger explained the system is being phased out.
“Unfortunately the equipment used to supply this service is becoming obsolete, causing great difficulty finding parts to maintain the special phones. I am concerned that the system as a whole may become unreliable and therefore must discontinue the service,” Sanger explained.
Beneficiaries of the program are advised to seek alternative medical alert systems on the private market, information for which was provided with the letter. They are also requested to return their Call Care phone to the hospital prior to the end date, as they will no longer be functional after August 1.
Questions regarding the service can be answered by calling the hospital at 874-7000.
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