Parkridge Health System will discontinue providing inpatient medical care and surgical services at Parkridge West at Jasper, Tn., effective April 6.
Parkridge West will continue to offer 24-hour emergency services, outpatient imaging and laboratory services, and Mountainview Treatment Center will continue to serve inpatient adult behavioral health patients.
Officials said, "This decision comes as a result of evaluating the emergency services, inpatient behavioral health, inpatient medical and surgical services, outpatient surgery, and comprehensive outpatient services utilized by Parkridge West community residents over the past year. Within this full scope of services, less than two percent of patients have utilized inpatient medical and surgical services."
Darrell Moore, CEO, Parkridge Health System, said, “Parkridge Health System has invested over $14 million to upgrade and renovate the emergency department, laboratory, radiology, behavioral health services and physician services at Parkridge West. We will continue to provide a high level of quality patient care to our community and focus our efforts on 24-hour emergency care, outpatient services and inpatient adult behavioral health services.”
Inpatient care will still be available in the System's Chattanooga facilities for emergency room patients that need to be admitted from Parkridge West. Transportation will be provided by the facility.
It was also announced that a new helipad at Parkridge Medical Center will be opening in the spring to expedite transportation of patients as appropriate.
Mr. Moore said, “Meeting the medical needs of our community and the physicians that provide these services is important to us. We will continue to coordinate and provide physician services on the Parkridge West Campus, including primary and specialty care.”
Human Resources is assisting employees displaced by the discontinuation of services by matching them to appropriate vacancies throughout the Parkridge Health System. A job fair will be held, and services through the Employee Assistance Program will be available to all employees. The change in services at Parkridge West has resulted in the elimination of approximately 20 employees.
As of April 6, Parkridge West Emergency Center will offer the following services:
24-Hour Emergency Care;
On-site outpatient radiology;
On-site outpatient laboratory;
Mountainview Treatment Center;
Inpatient adult behavioral health; and
Physician services in the medical office building including primary and specialty care.