Rochester, N.H.-based Frisbie Memorial Hospital plans to close Skyhaven Surgery Center, also in Rochester, with its last day of operation being Dec. 22, according to Foster's Daily Democrat.
Here are five things to know:
1. The board of managers decided to close the ASC as a "business decision," according to the report, but provided no further information.
2. The 16,000-square-foot ASC opened in 2016 as a joint venture between the hospital and physician owners. At the time, Frisbie paid 97 percent of the $1.5 million investment but agreed to split profits 83 percent/17 percent with the physician owners who contributed to the initial investment.
3. Under the agreement, Frisbie oversaw operations at the center. The hospital's CEO, John Marzinzik, previously said the ASC was opened to "keep the hospital's services as inexpensive as possible" since ASC rates are lower than hospital rates.
4. Any procedures scheduled after the ASC closes at the end of the day will be performed at Frisbie Memorial Hospital, and the ASC's staff were offered positions at the hospital. There were no notices of Skyhaven's closure on its website the day operations were suspended.
5. Last month, the hospital's medical staff reportedly took a vote of no confidence in the administration due to financial hardship; the hospital implemented an EHR system and the project reportedly ran over budget.