Hospitals nationwide continue to trim service lines as margin pressure, thin volumes and workforce shortages collide, and the fallout extends well beyond the inpatient setting.
In the last month, 11 hospitals and health systems have announced plans to close, consolidate or scale back services, moves that could affect ASCs for the access gaps left behind in these communities and for what they signal about where health systems are pulling capital and attention away.
Here are the 11 hospitals:
1. Boynton Beach, Fla.-based Bethesda Hospital, part of Baptist Health, is discontinuing pediatric rehabilitation services at three locations beginning Aug. 21.
2. Wausau, Wis.-based Aspirus Health has shared plans to close its Aspirus Lake View Silver Bay (Minn.) and consolidate services to its Aspirus Lake View Two Harbors (Minn.) Clinic.
3. Nassau University Medical Center, Nassau County’s only public hospital, has suspended its obstetrics program indefinitely.
4. Leominster, Mass.-based UMass Memorial Health-Community Healthlink has increased planned layoffs to 231 positions, effective Sept. 16, and plans to permanently close all of its programs and cease operations as an agency.
5. Ogdensburg, N.Y.-based North Star Health Alliance said it plans to submit a closure plan to the New York State Department of Health for the sleep center at Carthage (N.Y.) Area Hospital, and primary care and physical therapy services at Philadelphia (N.Y.) Health Center.
6. CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs in Iowa will end labor and delivery and Level 2 NICU services Aug. 31.
7. Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare’s Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Ill., has filed an application with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board to permanently close its inpatient pediatric unit amid low volumes.
8. Brattleboro (Vt.) Memorial Hospital’s board of directors approved a plan to close its obstetric service line, which includes the BMH Birthing Center, in the next six to nine months.
9. Columbus, Ohio-based Mount Carmel Health System has shared plans to close its freestanding Mount Carmel Franklin Emergency Department, also in Columbus, Aug. 22.
10. Columbia, Mo.-based MU Health Care has reduced its workforce by 74 employees as it implements an organization redesign aimed at strengthening its long-term financial sustainability.
11. Columbus-based OhioHealth plans to end inpatient maternity unit services at OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital in Delaware, Ohio, effective July 31.
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