BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (AP) - A southern West Virginia plans to halt inpatient and ancillary services by July 30 and limit operations to an emergency department, a lab and x-rays, officials said Friday.
According to the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, the decision to largely eliminate services at Bluefield Regional Medical Center was announced by Princeton Community Hospital’s board.
The decision will impact about 340 employees, who are being encouraged to apply for openings at Princeton Community Hospital.
The Princeton hospital purchased the Bluefield hospital last June.
“Many of the current dedicated employees have been with the (Bluefield) hospital for 20, 30, and 40 years,” said board president Rusty Sarver. “Regrettably, with the volatility of today’s health care environment, our decreasing population, and reductions in federal funding and reimbursements from government and commercial insurers, there are no other viable options.”
Sen. Joe Manchin called the news another painful loss, saying Bluefield will be the fourth West Virginia hospital to shut its doors in the last 18 months.
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