Dozens of Hospitals Are Curtailing Services. Will Patients Turn to Urgent Care Instead?

IU Health Blackford Hospital in Hartford City, IN is closing its emergency room and is going to stop offering inpatient services. In Philadelphia, Jefferson Health will cease acute care and emergency services. St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange, TX is cutting inpatient and orthopedic services. All told, according to a new report from Becker’s CFO Report, as of June 30 there are 42 U.S. hospital closing departments or otherwise ending services. While at least some of those decisions have been made in response to lower patient volume, the fact remains that communities have come to rely on those facilities. Patients will still need immediate care, and may not be in a position to travel 30 miles to the next-nearest hospital. While this may be especially hazardous in rural communities (see Rural and Tertiary Markets: The Next Urgent Care Frontier in the JUCM archive), needs could shift anywhere. Stay vigilant to see if hospitals in your area may be cutting services—and ensure patients know where to find you when those are services you offer.