MercyOne North Iowa will close its hospice facility in Mason City April 17 amid familiar industry pressures of inflation and high labor costs, according to a ABC affiliate KAALTV March 28 report.
Current hospice patients will be transferred to other facilities before the closure while new patients will be asked to go to MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, the report said.
"There will be no interruption of inpatient or respite care for our hospice patients other than the transfer of that care to a different location," according to a hospital statement. "This decision is one part of an overall plan to address the economic realities of the fundamental shift in healthcare post-pandemic."