California hospital considers scaling back services to reduce costs

Sonoma (Calif.) Valley Hospital, a 75-bed hospital that is part of the Sonoma Valley Hospital District, may cut some services to reduce costs, according to the Sonoma Index-Tribune.

Sonoma Valley Hospital CEO Kelly Mather said hospital leadership is recommending the facility end obstetrics and skilled nursing services and transfer home healthcare services to another local nonprofit.

"Small hospitals are quickly realizing they must reinvent themselves to have a role in this rapidly changing system," Ms. Mather said in a community message sent July 16. "No hospital wants to be in the position of closing services, especially high-quality services like these, but the financial realities of healthcare today are forcing hard decisions."

Ms. Mather said the cuts are needed to maintain Sonoma Valley's emergency department, which is the hospital's "most important and highest utilized service."

A public meeting will be held July 25 to consider the cuts, according to the report.

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