As hospitals and health systems seek to create more access points to meet demand for healthcare, they are particularly focused on access to care for underserved communities.
Care Coordination
Renton, Wash.-based Providence is upgrading its emergency care and critical cardiac care in Portland, Ore., with a $177 million investment.
Dignity Health's St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, Calif., will close its pediatric unit, effective July 1.
Eldorado, Ill.-based Ferrell Hospital has stopped accepting patients, including in the emergency department, after significant flooding May 8.
Of the roughly 10% of patients that were boarded in emergency departments, an estimated 30% to 50% were adults 65 and older, KFF Health News reported May 6.
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Officials with the Massachusetts health department have launched an incident command system meant to safeguard access to care and minimize any potential service disruptions amid Dallas-based Steward Health Care's ongoing financial troubles.
Marshfield Medical Center-Rice Lake (Wis.), a regional hospital of Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic Health System, said it will temporarily pause labor and delivery services beginning May 1 due to limited staffing.
Sparta (Ill.) Community Hospital cut its no-show rate by 6% by combining the electronic health record with the communications system to deliver medical reminders and information directly to patients, according to an article on the American Hospital Association website.
Tornadoes in Oklahoma injured at least 100 people and killed four, and damaged a Mercy hospital, according to a report published April 29 on EMS1 and local news stations.
A growing number of Americans cannot access primary care when it is needed, so they turn to urgent care and telehealth to fill the gaps — but some experts worry they may stop seeking care entirely, Medscape reported April 29.