Willows, Calif.-based Glenn Medical Center is fast-tracking the planned closure of its emergency department due to staffing shortages, according to a Sept. 22 Facebook post from the hospital.
Both the 25-bed hospital and its ED were set to close Oct. 21 after CMS revoked its critical access designation, but the ED will now close earlier on Sept. 30 by 7 p.m. PDT.
CMS notified Glenn Medical that it no longer qualified for CAH status in April, which requires hospitals to be at least 35 miles from the closest hospital by primary roads or 15 miles by secondary or mountainous roads. CMS determined the hospital sits just 32 miles from Colusa (Calif.) Medical Center. In June, hospital leaders said that losing the CAH designation could jeopardize operations, and warned inpatient and emergency services could be forced to shut down by 2026.
Glenn Medical’s outpatient clinics will stay open and ready for same-day acute care visits following the ED closure.
“Thank you for your understanding during this difficult transition,” the Facebook post said. “We remain committed to supporting our patients and community.”
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