Ten hospitals and health systems have announced plans to close departments or end services in the last month.
Some ASC leaders have said these service line cuts could be a growth opportunity in many markets.
"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 COO and chief nursing officer at Des Moines, Iowa-based MercyOne, told Becker's. "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 are 10 hospitals that have cut service lines in the last month:
- Houston-based Texas Children's Hospital will shutter two health centers.
- Seven Optum-owned MedExpress Urgent Care clinics closed their doors in Florida and Minnesota.
- Columbia, Mo.-based Boone Health closed home care and hospice service lines Nov. 2.
- San Antonio-based Peripheral Vascular Associates plans to close multiple offices.
- Fort Scott, Kan.-based Ascension Via Christi announced it will end its emergency department operations.
- PeaceHealth's Sacred Heart Medical Center University District hospital campus will close its emergency department in Eugene, Ore.
- Mayo Clinic announced it will permanently close its clinic at Ridgeview (Minn.) Le Sueur Campus on Dec. 12.
- Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica will close two home health locations.
- Monroeville, Ala.-based Monroe County Hospital shuttered its obstetrics unit.
- Birmingham, Ala.-based Brookwood Baptist Health closed obstetrics departments at two hospitals.