Numerous healthcare organizations recently shuttered medical units or terminated services to shore up finances, focus on more in-demand services or improve patient care lapses.
Here are nine hospitals and health systems that have announced closures, completed closures or ceased medical services temporarily or permanently in the past month, as reported by Becker's Hospital Review, beginning with the most recent.
1. Chicago hospital to shutter pediatric unit pending approval
Chicago-based Norwegian American Hospital is seeking approval to close its pediatric unit by March 31
2. Pensacola Naval Hospital to cease delivery services, restructure to outpatient facility
Pensacola (Fla.) Naval Hospital, the oldest naval hospital in the U.S., will slowly restructure to an outpatient center. The transition will begin in July with the closure of its maternity ward.
3. LRGHealthcare to shutter hospital's labor and delivery services
Laconia, N.H.-based LRGHealthcare will permanently close the maternity unit at Laconia-based Lakes Region General Hospital May 31.
4. New Hampshire hospital to close birthing unit, affecting 12 jobs
Lebanon, N.H.-based Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital will shutter its maternity ward July 15, and transition those services to Lebanon-based Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center as part of a planned merger.
5. Michigan hospital leaders: ED closure is primarily about responding to patient needs
Lansing, Mich.-based Sparrow Health System leaders said their plan to close the emergency department at its St. Lawrence campus in May is part of an effort to adapt to patients' changing needs and busy schedules.
6. Massachusetts OKs GI unit closure at a UMass hospital
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health determined Feb. 7 there are no legal issues regarding UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton (Mass.) Hospital's decision to close its gastrointestinal unit.
7. Shriners Hospitals for Children to potentially cut inpatient care services at sole Minnesota facility
Shriners Hospitals for Children-Twin Cities in Minneapolis is reportedly considering ending inpatient services at the facility.
8. IU Health Paoli Hospital to end delivery services
Indiana University Health Paoli Hospital will close its obstetrics unit at the end of March, which will affect 10 employees.
9. Massachusetts hospital could shutter maternity unit as early as mid-April
Taunton, Mass.-based Morton Hospital notified the state department of public health it intends to close its maternity ward as early as April 2018.