St. Clare Medical Center in Crawfordsville announces cuts

The Paper of Montgomery County

St. Clare Medical Center has made the decision to phase out their Skilled Nursing Unit over the next 30 days. This decision affects 25 employees.

"This was a very difficult decision for us to make, and we have not made it lightly," said Jim Siemers, Executive Director of St. Clare Medical Center. "However, it is one that we must make in order for us to continue to be able to meet the broader community needs and to continue to improve access to quality health care programs for those we serve."

Rising costs, reduced government reimbursement and a low patient census has led to the decision to close the unit.

"Unfortunately, the unit is seldom at capacity even though it is very small," Siemers said. "We simply do not admit enough patients annually to cover expenses. Closing the unit became a difficult, but necessary decision.

"For St. Clare to operate the unit efficiently, significant changes to the delivery of care model would be necessary, potentially affecting the quality care we provide," said Dr. Tim Tanselle, who has served the Skilled Nursing Unit as the Certified Medical Director since its inception in 1994. "This was simply not an option for the hospital or the physicians."

Patients currently in the unit will continue to receive quality care until they are discharged home or transferred to a local facility. Sufficient skilled nursing beds remain available at long-term care facilities. Staff is working closely with these patients and their families to insure the best transition possible.