Carthage Area Hospital Announces Closure Of Skilled Nursing Unit

Carthage- A big announcement has been made in the northern portion of our listening area.

Carthage Area Hospital submitted a plan to the Department of Health, earlier this spring, to close its Skilled Nursing Unit. The Department of Health approved the plan yesterday, which includes a process of transferring residents to other local skilled nursing facilities in the region.

Seventeen full-time staff members work at the Skilled Nursing Unit, along with four part-time and a per diem staff of three. The hospital has identified several open positions throughout the organization at various skill levels and plans to offer new positions and/or transfers to those affected by the unit closure. The total number of job losses, if any, won’t be calculated until reassignments are confirmed and all Skilled Nursing Unit patients are transferred.

“This move is not about eliminating jobs to save money,” said Rich Duval, Carthage Area Hospital Chief Executive Officer. “In fact, it’s quite the opposite. We remain optimistic that we have the potential to preserve jobs. It is a process that all parties are committed to seeing through.”

To see the entire press release, you can click here.