CLEVELAND (WJW) – The Sisters of Charity Health System and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center announced changes for the St. Vincent Charity Health Campus Wednesday.
The East 22nd St location, which includes St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, will transition from acute care to a center that focuses on “devotion to healing” through holistic health and wellness.
The next chapter is a facility that focuses on ambulatory care, which will mean medical services performed on an outpatient basis.
St. Vincent Charity Medical Center will provide ambulatory care as follows:
- Outpatient mental health services
- High-quality provision of addiction medicine services through Rosary Hall
- Primary care, internal medicine and specialty clinics
- Urgent care
- Youth and families
- Food and nutrition
- Workforce development
- Physical activity
- Transportation
- Housing
- Learning and education
- Arts and culture
The decision behind it is what they call a “seismic shift’ in health care needs. They say it has created a challenging environment to continue as a traditional acute care hospital.
They say they are seeing a rise in demand for outpatient care, declining patient volume and the growth of telehealth, which were accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s put additional financial pressure on the hospital, they say.
“Since 1865, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center has weathered challenges, including the pandemic through which our caregivers served our patients and community with courage and grace. This deep commitment to serving our community through Catholic health care will continue as we transition to high-quality ambulatory care,” said Janice G. Murphy, MSN, FACHE, president & CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System. “This transition puts the hospital on a financially sustainable path forward despite the rapid, significant and ongoing changes in health care today.”
The facility will retain approximately 100 caregivers, according to a press release, that includes/ clinical and non-clinical staff.
“As part of this transformation, medical residents at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center are invited to move to University Hospitals, which will also be conducting job fairs targeting clinical and non-clinical staff at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center,” the press releases states.
This transition is anticipated to be completed on November 15, 2022.
At that time, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center will no longer provide inpatient care.
Over the next eight weeks, patients are encouraged to check the St. Vincent Charity Medical Center website for additional information about the transition of services.
The Ohio Nurses Association issued a release saying “Cleveland will lose valuable healthcare services as the Medical Center closes inpatient, surgical and emergency units and limits their urgency and primary care services.”
The statement from Amy Pompeii, chair of ONA’s Economic and General Welfare Commission, went on to say:
“A true charity medical center, St. Vincent sets itself apart from many healthcare organizations in Ohio that focus on a for-profit business model. St. Vincent provides invaluable, and at times, cost-free healthcare to some of Cleveland’s most vulnerable patients who would otherwise go without. Furthermore, St. Vincent’s psychiatric emergency department is 1 of only 5 in the nation – a rare healthcare service that already should be more prevalent throughout the United States.
The downsizing of this medical center is yet another casualty of America’s healthcare system, where many smaller or independent systems are unable to sustain financially when up against larger conglomerates, ultimately creating less choice and healthcare access for patients.
The Ohio Nurses Association has enjoyed an amicable relationship with St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, most recently teaming up with the hospital on a pilot project to address workplace violence. We look forward to that relationship continuing as the parties discuss which services can be retained and how best to help displaced nurses.”
