Op-Ed in The Enterprise
Article written by Dr. Sameer Suhail found on page 4 of The Enterprise (Vol. 146)
A community introduction that includes background on the motivations and goals of the hospital project in Patrick County.
By Dr. Sameer Suhail
From a young age, I recognized dramatic differences in healthcare services based on little more than geography. I was raised in a modest neighborhood, and I saw that many neighboring communities had better access to high-quality health services than others.
Later, during my clinical rotations, I learned the full extent to which healthcare service disparities exist, especially as it pertains to urban and rural communities. When I began thinking creatively about solutions to this issue, it sparked my entrepreneurial side. Helping serve communities that lack healthcare services became my passion and were the largest motivating factor driving me to decide to pursue a career as a healthcare entrepreneur over practicing medicine.
That is why, as a healthcare entrepreneur, I have made it my mission to provide the most cost-effective, quality healthcare training programs, healthcare services, and readily accessible treatment options for rural and urban communities. At Foresight Health, we plan on fixing these disparities in Patrick County by reopening the hospital and continuing to explore opportunities in Southside and Southwest Virginia.
This is exactly why the Patrick County hospital is so important to the community. With the help of local community leaders, and listening to members of the community, we will be able to learn the health needs of the people in Patrick County and provide a targeted strategy for care. This will provide people a comforting place to get treatment whether it be for mental health or an emergency. We will assist in making the community stronger by adding 200-300 more jobs. Bringing healthcare back to Patrick County will make it easier for people to live healthier lives in their neighborhoods, schools, and places of work and recreation.
Healthcare brings its own challenges, and with ever-evolving advances in modern medicine Foresight Health will always maintain its sights on the needs of the vulnerable and disenfranchised. We will work to be an integral part of that trend through education and behavioral change. This will help us to provide excellent care with dignity. To ensure that dignity and integrity are at the forefront of Foresight Health, we will have a local ethics board to maintain the highest standards.
We are looking forward to the opening of the hospital and have big plans in mind. By the end of the year, we plan to have emergency services available and will continue to grow from there. We are always looking for new ways to grow and care for the community. We welcome community feedback and want to provide health services to rural areas that have not had access to such a thing in some time. The creation of new jobs in the area will not only serve the health needs of the community but also add an economic boost to better serve Patrick County. Foresight Health is committed to providing the area with professionals who have the highest standards of practice. They will not only help with critical health issues but work with you to live a happier, healthier life.
