For a variety of reasons that include financial issues and low patient volumes, hospitals and health systems are closing or have closed down their emergency departments. Here are five ER closings that were announced within the last year.
Adirondack Medical Center (Lake Placid, N.Y.)
Adirondack Health is considering converting the emergency department at Adirondack Medical Center in Lake Placid, N.Y., into a 12-hour urgent care clinic. In 2012, the 24-hour emergency department lost $500,000 and reported recording significantly less patient numbers. The health system has also faced losses to the tune of $3 million due to sequestration, Medicare cuts and fewer inpatient admissions. Adirondack Health officials say that no final decision has been reached regarding the conversion of the ED, and that they will hold community meetings before making the decision.
Allen Parish Hospital (Kinder, La.)
Allen Parish Hospital announced in February that it would stop provide emergency services beginning March 1. Hospital officials said that funding problems and lack of inpatient revenue led to the decision to close the ED.
Corcoran (Calif.) District Hospital
In March, the hospital announced that it had closed its emergency room, resulting in 25 layoffs. At the same time, it also announced that it would no longer be accepting inpatient admissions. Jonathan Brenn, CEO of Corcoran District Hospital told the Fresno Bee that the hospital would try to earn state approval for converting the ED into an urgent care clinic. The hospital is struggling financially because Corcoran State Prison reduced the number of prisoners it sent for surgery, resulting in a lost source of revenue, according to Mr. Brenn.
Erie (Pa.) VA Medical Center
In August 2012, the medical center announced that it would convert its emergency room into a 12-hour urgent care center. It also announced the closure of its intensive care unit due to declining demand for critical care services. The conversion of the ED to an urgent care center was a result of the ICU closing. The medical center plans on working with community hospitals to provide access to critical care services when needed.
Lakeside Hospital (Brockport, N.Y.)
In February, Lakeside Hospital announced that it would close its emergency department, citing low patient volumes as one of the reasons for its decision. The hospital had also been struggling to maintain inpatient services, and it eventually closed its entire facility on April 26.
St. Andrew's Hospital (Boothbay Harbor, Maine)
In August 2012, Boothbay Harbor, Maine-based Lincoln County Healthcare announced its plans to shut down the emergency department at St. Andrew's Hospital in Boothbay Harbor. It stated that the lack of patient volume drove the decision to close the ED. Last month, LCH announced that its current plan is to close the ED in October, and convert St. Andrew's Hospital into an urgent care center, without an ED or inpatient services. It will also seek to retain the hospital's critical access status by merging it with Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta, Maine, and creating a two-campus critical access hospital with only one ED located at the Miles campus.
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Adirondack Medical Center (Lake Placid, N.Y.)
Adirondack Health is considering converting the emergency department at Adirondack Medical Center in Lake Placid, N.Y., into a 12-hour urgent care clinic. In 2012, the 24-hour emergency department lost $500,000 and reported recording significantly less patient numbers. The health system has also faced losses to the tune of $3 million due to sequestration, Medicare cuts and fewer inpatient admissions. Adirondack Health officials say that no final decision has been reached regarding the conversion of the ED, and that they will hold community meetings before making the decision.
Allen Parish Hospital (Kinder, La.)
Allen Parish Hospital announced in February that it would stop provide emergency services beginning March 1. Hospital officials said that funding problems and lack of inpatient revenue led to the decision to close the ED.
Corcoran (Calif.) District Hospital
In March, the hospital announced that it had closed its emergency room, resulting in 25 layoffs. At the same time, it also announced that it would no longer be accepting inpatient admissions. Jonathan Brenn, CEO of Corcoran District Hospital told the Fresno Bee that the hospital would try to earn state approval for converting the ED into an urgent care clinic. The hospital is struggling financially because Corcoran State Prison reduced the number of prisoners it sent for surgery, resulting in a lost source of revenue, according to Mr. Brenn.
Erie (Pa.) VA Medical Center
In August 2012, the medical center announced that it would convert its emergency room into a 12-hour urgent care center. It also announced the closure of its intensive care unit due to declining demand for critical care services. The conversion of the ED to an urgent care center was a result of the ICU closing. The medical center plans on working with community hospitals to provide access to critical care services when needed.
Lakeside Hospital (Brockport, N.Y.)
In February, Lakeside Hospital announced that it would close its emergency department, citing low patient volumes as one of the reasons for its decision. The hospital had also been struggling to maintain inpatient services, and it eventually closed its entire facility on April 26.
St. Andrew's Hospital (Boothbay Harbor, Maine)
In August 2012, Boothbay Harbor, Maine-based Lincoln County Healthcare announced its plans to shut down the emergency department at St. Andrew's Hospital in Boothbay Harbor. It stated that the lack of patient volume drove the decision to close the ED. Last month, LCH announced that its current plan is to close the ED in October, and convert St. Andrew's Hospital into an urgent care center, without an ED or inpatient services. It will also seek to retain the hospital's critical access status by merging it with Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta, Maine, and creating a two-campus critical access hospital with only one ED located at the Miles campus.
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