Gateway Regional Medical Center, a 342-bed hospital in Granite City, Ill., would like to discontinue use of its five pediatric beds, according to a St. Louis Business Journal report.
The hospital is seeking permission from the Illinois Health Facilities & Services Review Board to make the change, stating that the beds haven't been used in several years and would be of better use as medical/surgical expansion, according to the report, which cites Gateway Regional's application with the review board.
Gateway Regional contends that staff pediatricians haven't had the need to admit pediatric patients, and if a pediatric patient needs to be admitted, they are most often transferred to a nearby children's facility, according to the report.
If the review board approves Gateway Regional's request, the hospital plans to continue taking care of pediatric patients on an outpatient basis and have the occasional patient admitted to a medical/surgical bed for a limited stay, the report reads.
April 15 is the deadline for hospital officials to request a public hearing on the issue.
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