MASSENA — After a $690,955 loss in September and a deficit of over $2 million for the year, Massena Memorial Hospital will close the Norfolk Family Health Center.

The losses and closure were announced in documents released by the Board of Managers on Monday.

In response to the gap, a prepared statement released alongside the financial summary says MMH officials are taking steps to reduce expenses. That includes closing the Norfolk clinic, a hiring freeze for all “non-mission critical positions,” a layoff or reduction of hours for six administrative and ancillary positions and a review of contracts for potential reductions or cancelation.

“We continue to focus as a team on the future to ensure MMH is a place where patients want to come, physicians want to practice, our employees want to work and of course our community chooses for their medical and healthcare,” MMH CEO Robert Wolleben said in a press announcement.

The news release did not say when the Norfolk clinic will close, stating that patients will be "offered the opportunity to continue care in another MMH practice."

It says year-to-date volumes in the physicians outreach clinics and admissions are up.

“Special note is the new clinic, St. Lawrence Interist reporting 1,289 visits in September. Chief FInancial Officer Pat Facteau reported the hospital continues to care for more patients in the hospital, and our network of clinics along with our ancillary departments,” the statement reads.

The financial summary says inpatient discharges were behind for September, 163, 13.3 percent behind the budgeted 188. For the year, inpatient discharges are at 1,717, just under 1 percent beh thinde budgeted 1,731. Year-to-date, they have 4.2 percent more than the same time last year, the summary says.

Observation visits were also ehind budget for September, at 53, which is 23.1 percent behind the planned 69. For the year, They have had 668 observation visits, 5.7 percent over the budgeted 632. Year-to-date, they have 12.2 percent more than at this point last year, the summary says.

Their outpatient cases came in 12 percent above budget, according to a financial summary. The summary says total outpatient registrations, which includes the emergency department and clinics, totaled 11,146 in September. That’s 12.5 percent ahead of the budgeted 9,907. For the year, that number is at 94,387, which is 4.8 percent over the planned 89,987. They have seen 5.9 percent more than at the same time last year, the summary says.