X

With state approval to close critical care unit, Massena Memorial anticipates no layoffs

Posted 9/23/19

MASSENA -- Massena Memorial Hospital has received approval from the state to close its four-bed Critical Care Unit (CCU), but no one will be laid off as a result. The hospital will eliminate 13 …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

With state approval to close critical care unit, Massena Memorial anticipates no layoffs

Posted

MASSENA -- Massena Memorial Hospital has received approval from the state to close its four-bed Critical Care Unit (CCU), but no one will be laid off as a result.

The hospital will eliminate 13 positions, but no one will be out of work, MMH said in a news release. Other positions within MMH are available for nine of those affected staff members. For the other four staffers (three full-time, one part-time), positions are available at other St. Lawrence Health System facilities, MMH said.

SLHS manages and operates Canton-Potsdam and Gouverneur hospitals. They are managing MMH on an interim basis and in the process of taking over the hospital from the Town of Massena.

“Thanks to the state Department of Health, Massena Memorial today takes a step forward in trying to improve its financial picture and ensure the continuation of quality, accessible health care for the people of Massena and the surrounding communities,” MMH CEO David Bender said in a prepared statement. “Fewer than five patients per month met the criteria for admission to the CCU. It was difficult to recruit and retain critical care staff. And the cost was prohibitive. As a result of the closure, MMH will be able to save approximately $1 million annually.”

The Emergency Room will remain open and fully operational and other critical patient care services such as cardiac monitoring (telemetry) will remain available to MMH patients. Strict protocols have been put in place to ensure that the few patients who might otherwise require CCU-level care will have access to such care in the appropriate facility.

“The Board thoroughly reviewed this proposal – its impact on the health of our community and the financial health of our hospital – before we voted to approve the closure of the CCU last month. It was the right decision then and we’re glad that DOH, after their review, agreed with us and approved us moving forward with the closure,” MMH Board of Managers Chair Loretta Perez said in a prepared statement. “Our action mirrors actions taken by many rural hospitals across the country to close their CCU units because of low utilization. Closing the CCU is an essential step in achieving the goal of putting Massena Memorial on a path to financial sustainability.”