The decision to scale back services is down to staffing challenges and increasing supply and labor costs, Astria Health President and CEO Brian Gibbons said in a Nov. 29 statement.
Astria Sunnyside Hospital currently offers inpatient and outpatient cardiology care at the hospital and its clinics, including elective percutaneous coronary interventions, cardiac catheterization, angioplasty, stent placement and coronary angiography, according to the report. However, open-heart surgeries and other major cardiac procedures have never been performed at the hospital.
Physicians at Astria hospitals and clinics will work with cardiologists associated with Yakima Valley Memorial and Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, Wash., to ensure patients in the region have access to more intensive heart care.
Astria emergency rooms in the region will continue to provide emergent heart care, but will look to stabilize and transfer those patients to other hospitals, according to the report.
“Closing a service line is always a last resort, but part of being a good financial steward of our organization is to be responsible to our staff and the communities that depend on us,” Mr. Gibbons said in a news release. “It makes sense to support healthcare entities that offer more-robust cardiology services.”
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
