(STURGIS) - Several people spoke Tuesday during a town hall meeting about the situations that led to the closing of Sturgis Hospital.
The event was put on by Christian Vukasovich, the Democratic candidate running for the 5th District U.S. House of Representatives seat.
There were several former Sturgis Hospital employees that were at the event. One of them, Karla Hart, says one of the factors that led to Sturgis Hospital closing goes back several years.
Hart says this started in the 1980'a with the DRG's and how insurance companies took control over what would and wouldn't be done along with the costs.
Hart gives an example of what she was talking about. Hart says 25 years ago if someone had an appendectomy they would be in the hospital for 3 days and the hospital would get paid for those days. Now, the DRG pays a hospital $5,000 whether the patient stays one day or five days. (LISTEN ABOVE).
Hart shares that when her grandfather had open heart surgery he spent two weeks in the hospital, recuperating and learning how to lead a healthier lifestyle. She says now, many times today, patients having this kind of surgery spend a lot less time in the hospital.