In an announcement made February 14, Lakeside Health System Board and Acting CEO James Cummings said the heathcare systems emergency department and inpatient beds would be closing in the near future. He said hospital officials are working on a plan to transform the health system from an acute care hospital and emergency department to an outpatient diagnostic and treatment center. The goal is to restore Lakeside’s financial stability so that it can meet the community’s health care needs for the long term, he stated in a press release.
“For the last several years, the number of patients admitted to our impatient beds has continued to decline as has the number of patients cared for in our Emergency Department. These declines have occurred despite a concerted effort to grow our services,” Cummings said. “We are now at a point where maintaining inpatient hospital beds drains resources that could be applied to services that are essential as part of ongoing health care reform. To ensure our place in the region’s health care system and to continue to provide essential services, Lakeside is conceding inpatient care to others.”
Cummings said the Beikirch Care Center, Lakeside’s 120-bed skilled nursing facility, will remain open and fully functional. It was recently named by Elderbranch as one of the region’s top nursing homes, based on data from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The move away from inpatient care comes as Lakeside faces a rising deficit and increased pressure to provide support for new models of care that emphasize services provided in physician offices and outpatient centers. The decision to pursue a transformational strategy followed weeks of discussion with attorneys, consultants, local physicians, and other health care systems in our area.
Lakeside’s plan includes focusing on diagnostic and treatment services, possibly including an urgent care center, ambulatory surgery center, outpatient pharmacy, imaging services, endoscopy, and echocardiography. Plans are not yet finalized and must be approved by the New York State Department of Health (DOH).
“This is a delicate transition, but one that offers hope for future stability as a different type of provider that suits tomorrow’s needs,” said Nancy Plews, Lakeside Board chair. “We will work closely with the State to determine exactly what options are available to restore financial stability and help us become a more sustainable health system that aligns with future needs.”
If the state accepts Lakeside’s Transformational Business Plan, the Health System’s Emergency Department and 61 inpatient beds could close within the next two months. On a typical day, Lakeside provides care to about 22 inpatients. Lakeside officials will work closely with the DOH and Rochester’s other health systems to plan for a smooth transition.
“We have a collaborating institution agreement with the University of Rochester Medical Center and we have a collegial and supportive relationship with Unity Health System, so we are certain we can work together to make an immediate and safe transition for those who’ve relied on Lakeside for inpatient care,” Cummings said. “We are also optimistic that, in the long run, some outpatient services may be preserved; those that support new health care models. As we develop our reorganization plan, we’ll work closely with local physicans to build supports that enable them to help patients stay healthy.”
