The final chapter. Sound management procedures facilitate a hospital's closure

The closure of a healthcare institution affects employees, patients, and the community. When St. Mary's Health Center, Emporia, KS, closed in 1991, those who administered the closure followed a procedure that lessened the burden on all involved. Because of the health center's deteriorating financial picture, CSJ Health System of Wichita (of which St. Mary's was a member) decided to close the facility. Once the system's board of trustees and the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, KS (in which Emporia is located), approved the closure, facility and system leaders planned the procedures for announcing the closure and helping employees and patients through the difficult times ahead. On announcement day the CSJ Health System president and St. Mary's chief executive officer met with department heads to inform them that no new patients would be accepted and to explain the dismissal and transfer processes. Department heads were also asked to tell those they supervised about the closure and about meetings for employees later that day. Counselors were available to help department heads and employees through that emotional day and during the weeks and months ahead. Employees received packets of information describing severance benefits. Human resources personnel sponsored a job fair at which many former employees found jobs. A closing ceremony was held at a local chapel. During the ceremony employees voiced their appreciation of the way in which the closure had been completed and the openness and supportiveness of the sisters, the system, and St. Mary's administrators.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)