Intensive Care Unit for Pediatrics (PICU) in the Portland region will be shut down permanently.
Providence, a leading health organization in Oregon, has announced the closure of its pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at St. Vincent Medical Center. The decision comes as a result of financial difficulties faced by Providence across its Oregon hospitals, leading to a series of cost-cutting measures.
The St. Vincent PICU, which opened in 2013 and has been in operation for approximately eight years, is one of several services being cut by Providence. The unit, which provides care for children from newborns to teenagers, has four beds, making it the smallest of the three ICUs in Oregon dedicated to children.
The closure, expected to occur by June 30, 2022, will have a significant impact on the families of the children who have relied on the unit for critical care services. However, Providence has assured that the transfer of patients from the St. Vincent PICU to other hospitals will be coordinated to ensure continuity of care for the affected children.
After May 1, 2022, any current patients in the St. Vincent PICU will be transferred to either Legacy Health's Randall Children's Hospital or OHSU's Doernbecher Children's Hospital. The transfer process will take into account each child's specific medical needs and conditions. The last day for admitting patients to the St. Vincent PICU will be May 1, 2022.
The closure of the St. Vincent PICU is part of a larger cost-cutting measure by Providence, which is also addressing a $100 million operating loss across its Oregon hospitals through a series of layoffs and service cuts.
Despite the temporary closure, Providence has stated that it plans to reevaluate the situation in the future and potentially reopen the unit if financial conditions improve. This decision offers a glimmer of hope for families who have come to rely on the St. Vincent PICU for their children's critical care needs.
The closure of the St. Vincent PICU will leave Legacy Health's Randall Children's Hospital and OHSU's Doernbecher Children's Hospital as the only two pediatric ICUs in Oregon. This change in the landscape of Oregon's healthcare system will undoubtedly present challenges, but the affected hospitals and the broader healthcare community are working to mitigate any potential disruptions to care.
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