OhioHealth shifting focus to outpatient services in Nelsonville
New outpatient health center to be built in Nelsonville
NELSONVILLE & COLUMBUS, Ohio – OhioHealth announced today that because of the changing healthcare needs of the community, it is shifting its focus to outpatient services which will result in a new, state-of-the-art facility in Nelsonville. Inpatient services at Doctors Hospital Nelsonville will cease before the end of this year, although the emergency department will remain open.
OhioHealth will build a new healthcare facility focused solely on outpatient care in Nelsonville. The system is in the early planning stages for this facility and expects construction to begin in 2015 with construction taking between 18 to 24 months to complete. When the new outpatient center opens, the current Doctors Hospital Nelsonville building will close.
“This has been a very emotional, thoughtful and collaborative process for the Doctors Hospital Nelsonville board members and OhioHealth,” said LaMar Wyse, chief operating officer for Doctors Hospital Nelsonville. “But with only 20 percent of people in Nelsonville coming to Doctors Hospital Nelsonville for inpatient care, and with an average inpatient census of about four patients per day, it became obvious that keeping the hospital open was not a viable option. In fact, what the community is saying it needs – both in their words and actions – is more robust, convenient outpatient care.”
The timing of the shift in services will happen in three phases.
Phase 1: Doctors Hospital Nelsonville will immediately limit inpatient capacity.
Phase 2: Doctors Hospital Nelsonville will close inpatient services no later than the end of 2014. Until the new outpatient facility is open, the hospital will continue to offer current services including 24-hour emergency services, endoscopy services, outpatient x-ray and all other outpatient services.
Phase 3: Doctors Hospital Nelsonville will close and the new outpatient health center will open.
New health center
“While it saddens us to close one door,” added Wyse, “we are happy to open another as plans will soon begin to develop a new outpatient healthcare facility to be built in Nelsonville. This new health center will better meet the needs of our community. We look forward to engaging in the planning process, including finding the best location for our patients.”
Due to the age of the existing hospital building and infrastructure, it is in the best interest of patients, associates and the people of Nelsonville to build a new facility from the ground up that will enhance the patient experience, be more efficient, and support the high-quality care that has long been provided at Doctors Hospital Nelsonville.
Planning will begin soon to determine specific services to be included in the new facility. Typically, an outpatient facility at OhioHealth provides urgent care, imaging, laboratory services and physician offices. A budget will be determined when the scope of the project is settled on.
OhioHealth will work with the community with the goal of repurposing the current hospital building for another use.
“Since it opened as Mount Saint Mary Hospital in 1950 and changed its name to Doctors Hospital Nelsonville in 1980, this hospital has served the community well,” added Wyse. “We plan to continue that legacy well into the future.”
About OhioHealth
OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare organization with Methodist roots. Based in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth is currently recognized as one of the top five large health systems in America by Truven Health Analytics and has been for five years in a row. It is also recognized by FORTUNE Magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” and has been for eight years in a row, 2007-2014.
Serving its communities since 1891, it is a family of 28,000 associates, physicians and volunteers, and a network of 12 member hospitals, 25+ health and surgery centers, hospice, home-health, medical equipment and other health services spanning a 40-county area.
OhioHealth member hospitals include OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital-Columbus, OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital-Nelsonville, OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, OhioHealth MedCentral Mansfield, OhioHealth MedCentral Shelby and OhioHealth Rehabilitation Hospital. For more information, please visit our website at www.ohiohealth.com.
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