Medina Memorial announces closing of ICU, staffing reductions
MEDINA – Medina Memorial Hospital will close its 4-bed Intensive Care Unit and eliminate 10 full-time equivalent positions on Jan. 31, 2017.
The ICU is no longer a six-figure deficit, but it continued to operate at a loss this year, Wendy M. Jacobson, President/CEO of Medina Memorial Hospital/Orleans Community Health, said in a statement this afternoon.
The staff in the positions being eliminated will be able to apply for other jobs with Orleans Community Health.
Here is the full statement from Jacobson:
“Related to the change in designation in 2015 to a Critical Access Hospital and the decrease in patient volume that the majority of hospitals saw in 2016, Orleans Community Health is conducting some reductions and re-assignment of staff.
“In 2016, staffing was modified in the ICU to make up for a six-figure loss in 2015. Unfortunately, though not as high as in 2015, the losses continued for 2016. The 4 bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) will therefore close due to consistent low patient volume and patients not meeting required acuity levels for reimbursement. There are eighteen CAHs in NYS and only three have the patient volume and acuity level to support an ICU. The NYS Department of health has been notified and a Limited Review CON submitted.
“Approximately 2% (approximately 10 FTEs) of the employees including staff from Nursing and Rehabilitation are affected by the necessary reductions system wide. OCH expects to minimize the actual number of reductions by offering impacted associates the opportunity to apply for other vacant positions within the health system. The layoffs will take effect 1/31/17.
“Additionally, Outpatient Rehabilitation services will be consolidated and all outpatient rehabilitation services will be located in Albion at the Health Center on Rt 31 and Butts Road.
“The reductions and reassignments also come at a time when area health providers are facing increasing pressure to find operational efficiencies amid continued state and federal cutbacks in healthcare reimbursement and an overall weak economy. Operational efficiencies are imperative for designated Critical Access Hospitals and those efficiencies are closely monitored by State and Federal regulatory bodies.
“OCH will continue to meet your needs as a community hospital and we will continue to offer Medical Surgical, Surgical, and Emergency Department Services, as well as Imaging, Cardiac, and Laboratory services, Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation onsite.
“We still offer Renal Dialysis in Batavia and Medina and Primary, Urgent, Laboratory, Imaging and Rehabilitation Services in Albion. We also hope to be adding new outpatient and long term services to better meet the community’s needs in 2017 and 2018 as a result of grant funding.”
