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Ascension has announced plans to close its critical care hospital in Bedford. In a pair of notices to the state, the Missouri-based health system said Ascension St. Vincent Dunn and nine Ascension Medical Group practices in Lawrence County will cease operations in mid-December, affecting more than 130 employees.
The closure of the hospital will result in the layoffs of 77 employees, and more than 50 employees will be affected by the closures of the nine AMG practices.
The St. Louis-based health system, the parent of Ascension St. Vincent, said it will offer severance and outplacement services to affected employees who are unable to secure another position within Ascension. Bedford is about 75 miles south of Indianapolis.
Bedford is also home to IU Health Bedford Hospital, which has 25 staffed patient beds and an emergency room.
In a statement provided to Inside INdiana Business on Monday, Ascension said the decision was made after “a thorough assessment of the hospital’s current operating environment and the health care landscape in Bedford.”
“Ascension St. Vincent Dunn is one of two Critical Access Hospitals in Lawrence County, just miles apart from one another. In fact, Lawrence County is one of the only counties in the country to have two critical access hospitals,” the statement said. “After exploring the options available, including conducting an unsuccessful search for a buyer for the hospital, it was clear that other providers with a larger presence in the region are better positioned to efficiently serve the residents of Bedford and neighboring communities.”
Ascension said the affected employees were notified of the move on Sept. 16. The closures are expected to be complete on Dec. 16.
“Plans are in place to ensure continuity of care for patients,” Ascension said. “Those plans include discussions with local and regional providers to transition health care services.”
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I guess you just hose the people of Bedford? Having a hospital isn’t always about making money.
I guess that’s why they are part of the “Health Care Industry” and not the health care system.
IU Health has a hospital in Bedford too. But, yeah, it’s a for-profit industry, not for-customers.
Had their lunch eaten by IU Health – although to clarify IU is also a so-called non-for-profit healthcare system. Remember next time there’s an Ascension mention of serving the ‘poor and vulnerable’….except in Lawrence County, Indiana…
Perhaps time for Indiana legislators to consider the non-for-profit status of an “Indiana-based health system’ whose profits filter their way to St. Louis headquarters to subsidize the rest of Ascension….
Not for Profit. Hahaha. That’s funny. Avoid taxes. Avoid property taxes. Forcing vaccinations or firing onto those so-called heroes just one year prior. Paying travel and/or agency nurses 3x more than their own long term nurses with years of seniority. Ascension needs to take a long hard serious look at their vision and their mission…you are missing your “Spirit of Caring” mark, and badly!
It would’ve been nice for the writer to do just **a little** more than rewrite the news release. Not one mention of the other hospital in Bedford.
Good point, Rick. We addressed that oversight.
“Ascension St. Vincent Dunn is one of two Critical Access Hospitals in Lawrence County, just miles apart from one another. In fact, Lawrence County is one of the only counties in the country to have two critical access hospitals”
Ascension is descending into the gutter.