The article highlights a tragic incident at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton, where a new mother, Sungida Rashid, died due to internal bleeding just days after giving birth. The hospital faced a critical shortage of medical devices, specifically embolism coils, as their inventory had been repossessed due to unpaid bills. This shortage was part of a larger financial crisis within Steward Health Care, the hospital’s parent company, affecting its entire nine-hospital system in Massachusetts.
The financial challenges at Steward had led to unpaid bills to various vendors, including elevator repair companies and staffing agencies. Court records revealed that invoices had been going unpaid for over a year. Hospital executives reportedly sought permission from other hospitals to perform their work elsewhere, and there were concerns about possible closures that could pose a public health emergency.
Patients, including Sungida Rashid, faced difficulties accessing care, with some blaming the system’s financial problems for the challenges. Steward Health Care defended itself, stating that it strives to maintain adequate supplies for patient care and has consistently been recognized for providing high-quality care.
The article details Sungida Rashid’s pregnancy and the complications she faced while navigating the American healthcare system. It also sheds light on the broader impact of Steward’s financial troubles, with reports of doctors leaving, delays in scheduling procedures, and strained relationships with vendors.
The tragic outcome for Rashid prompted questions about the hospital’s responsibility and whether earlier intervention could have saved her. Steward Health Care did not respond to questions about the specific case or the impact of its financial difficulties on patient care. The article concludes by highlighting the lingering questions and grief faced by Rashid’s husband, Nabil Haque, and the broader uncertainty within the healthcare industry as it tries to make sense of the situation.