LAKEWOOD -- Inpatient services, which are those requiring an overnight stay, will be finished transitioning out of Lakewood Hospital by Feb. 5.
This plan, announced Thursday, comes after last month's unanimous approval of Lakewood City Council's agreement between the city of Lakewood, the Lakewood Hospital Association and the Cleveland Clinic.
The current emergency department at Lakewood Hospital will remain open and available until the new family health center -- with its own emergency department -- opens.
Construction of the new $34 million, 62,000-square-foot family health center is planned to begin during the 4th quarter of 2016, at the southwest corner of Belle and Detroit avenues, across the street from the hospital. The new facility is expected to open in mid-2018.
All 860 Lakewood Hospital employees are being offered jobs within the Cleveland Clinic health system, officials say. Approximately 200 of these employees will continue to work in the emergency department and the outpatient services that will remain at Lakewood Hospital until the new family health center opens.
In addition to the emergency department remaining open until mid-2018 at Lakewood Hospital, several outpatient services will also continue to be provided at Lakewood Hospital, including:
- Radiology
- Lab Services
- Cardiovascular Testing
- Chronic Care Clinic
- Diabetes Center
- Senior Assessment Center
- Teen Health Center
- Women's Center (In Community Health Center)
- Physical Therapy (In YMCA)
"Lakewood Hospital has experienced a steady decline in inpatient volume since 2005 -- an average 5 percent decrease each year," according to a Cleveland Clinic press release. "In recent years, however, the decline has accelerated, as inpatient volume dropped 8 percent in 2014 and 12 percent in 2015. The majority of patients who live in Lakewood now use the hospital for outpatient services. Hospital operations lost an average of $1 million per month in 2015. The City of Lakewood -- which will retain ownership of the hospital buildings and the 5.7 acres on which they sit -- will have the opportunity to use the entire hospital property for future commercial redevelopment."
Save Lakewood hospital released a statement that they will continue gathering signatures for a referendum on March ballot to save the hospital.
"There was no open bidding for the hospital deal even though 3 viable health care operators expressed earnest interest in maintaining and improving Lakewood Hospital. Our city taxes will go up and health care for Lakewood and surrounding communities will be compromised by this morally corrupt move to close Lakewood Hospital. We continue our campaign."
