Exeter (N.H.) Hospital's two pediatric dental practices will be taken over by two dentists from Core Physicians, New Hampshire Public Radio reported Oct. 10.
Seven notes:
1. Exeter Hospital announced plans to close its neurology, podiatry, allergy and immunology, and pediatric dentistry services in October.
2. Backlash from patients and state regulators led the hospital to delay the cuts for six months.
3. An exception to the postponement was given for services that can be transitioned to other providers with minimal impact on patients.
4. The attorney general’s office told NHPR that two pediatric dentists from Core Physicians, a multi-specialty group practice affiliated with Exeter Hospital, plan to take over the hospital's dental practice in the coming months.
5. Exeter Hospital has also set up a call center to help patients transition their care to other providers.
6. Hospital staff will also be contacting patients to discuss transition plans.
7. The attorney general's office is currently investigating whether Exeter Hospital's decisions to cut the services violated a prior agreement between the office and Cambridge, Mass.-based Beth Israel Lahey, which acquired Exeter Hospital last year.