Becker's has reported on 28 hospitals shuttering services since Feb. 1, a large majority of which are emergency departments and birthing services.
This could be an opportunity for ASCs in these markets to add specialties, some leaders say.
"As hospitals evaluate and close or ramp down in specific service lines, it can be a real opportunity for ASCs to capture new volume in a variety of specialties," Jennifer Misajet, RN, interim chief nursing officer at Fresno, Calif.-based Saint Agnes Medical Center, told Becker's in November. "Surgical patient volume in many specialties continues to migrate safely and appropriately to an ambulatory approach in both ASCs and hospitals. While service expansion may require ASCs to purchase specialty equipment and train staff, selectively focusing on growing volumes in specialties moving out of acute care can make sense for the revenue, productivity and utilization of the ASC."
Here is a breakdown of the services hospitals are shuttering since Feb. 1:
Birthing services
- Columbia City, Ind.-based Parkview Whitley Hospital, part of Parkview Health, is closing its family birthing center, a move tentatively scheduled for Sept. 1.
- Mercy Health-Fairfield (Ohio) Hospital, part of Bon Secours Mercy Health, is closing its labor and delivery services effective May 1.
- Scripps Mercy Chula Vista (Calif.) hospital, part of Scripps Health, is transferring its obstetrics care services and neonatal intensive care unit to a different campus.
- Adventist Health Tulare (Calif.) is pausing obstetrics services June 6 for an unspecified amount of time.
- Vineland, N.J.-based Inspira Health will close the midwifery program at its Inspira Medical Center Elmer (N.J.) location.
- Caldwell, Idaho-based West Valley Medical Center, part of HCA Healthcare, closed its labor and delivery and neonatal intensive care unit April 1.
- Froedtert Menomonee Falls (Wis.) Hospital is closing its birth center and relocating services by July 1.
- Adventist Health Simi Valley (Calif.) hospital, part of Adventist Health, is ending its labor and delivery services and closing its neonatal intensive care unit May 8.
- Miami-based North Shore Medical Center, part of Dallas-based Steward Health Care, closed patient care in its obstetrics unit Feb. 14.
- St. Marys, Pa.-based Penn Highlands Elk, part of Penn Highlands Healthcare, will close its labor and delivery services May 1.
- Rumford (Maine) Hospital closed its maternity program March 31.
Emergency departments
- Regional Medical Center Health System plans to end inpatient services at Stringfellow Memorial Hospital in Anniston, Ala., and transition the emergency department to its main hospital campus, which is about a mile away.
- Wahiawa (Hawaii) General Hospital shut down its emergency department temporarily on March 18 due to heating, ventilation and air conditioning issues.
- Kettering (Ohio) Health closed its emergency department at Kettering Health Piqua on Feb. 1.
Dialysis center
- Mee Memorial Hospital in King City, Calif., plans to close its dialysis center in June.
Inpatient behavioral health
- Davies Community Hospital in Washington, Ind., will close its inpatient behavioral health unit May 1.
Inpatient rehabilitation unit
- West Monroe, La.-based Glenwood Regional Medical Center, part of Steward Health Care, closed its inpatient rehabilitation unit March 20.
Long-term care facility
- Renovo, Pa.-based Bucktail Medical Center is closing its long-term care facility May 14.
Medical offices
- Adventist Health Tillamook (Ore.) will close three medical offices by April 12.
Pharmacy
- Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health temporarily shuttered its pharmacy on Eastern Michigan University's campus in Ypsilanti from March 22 to late summer.
Practices and clinics
- Northampton, Mass.-based Cooley Dickinson Hospital, part of Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham, is closing its South Deerfield, Mass.-based Sugarloaf Pediatrics practice July 1.
- Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic Health System announced March 1 that it will not reopen its clinic in Janesville, Minn.
- Lion Star, the group that operates Nacogdoches (Texas) Memorial Hospital, closed four of its clinics March 22.
Skilled nursing facility
- ProMedica and MetroHealth closed their joint venture skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility at MetroHealth's Old Brooklyn Medical Center in Cleveland.
Stroke and cardiac services
- New York City-based Mount Sinai Health's Beth Israel campus ended its stroke and cardiac services March 10.
Surgery department
- Atmore (Ala.) Community Hospital is closing its surgery department June 1.
Trauma services
- Regional Medical Center in San Jose, Calif., plans to end its trauma services Aug. 12.
Urgent care
- Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic Health System closed urgent care services at its Marshfield Medical Center-Weston (Wis.) location, effective March 8.