<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0NnTt8_1GnIigYh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0NnTt8_1GnIigYh00" width="1000" height="563" ></figure>PORT ANGELES — Olympic Medical Center is exploring whether operating as a smaller hospital could help secure its financial future, but commissioners are raising questions about where patients would receive care.Commissioners are considering converting OMC to a critical access hospital, a designation that could increase Medicare reimbursement rates but would limit the hospital to 25 inpatient beds.OMC currently has 67 beds, with an average inpatient population in the low 40s.Commissioner Dr. Gerald Stephanz outlined the proposal during Wednesday’s board meeting, emphasizing the need to consider how the change would affect patient care.“In converting to 25 bed hospital, if we’re going to do that, we’ve got to account for all the things that we do as a 67 bed hospital. And how are we going to do that? It’s about the total care for the community. It’s not just about producing beds,” Stephanz said.No decision has been made.Consultants are evaluating options that include separate rehabilitation or psychiatric units, hospice care and partnerships with skilled nursing facilities. Those possibilities would require further clinical and regulatory review.Commissioners also raised concerns about patients who might need to seek care outside Clallam County, including the availability of ambulances for transfers, open beds at other hospitals and the burden of additional travel on patients’ families.A financial comparison of the options is expected later this month. If commissioners decide to pursue critical access designation, a consultant said OMC could have an application ready by the end of March.</div></body>

Block Source: My Clallam County

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

PORT ANGELES — Olympic Medical Center is exploring whether operating as a smaller hospital could help secure its financial future, but commissioners are raising questions about where patients would receive care. Commissioners are considering converting OMC to a critical access hospital, a designation that could increase Medicare reimbursement rates...

OMC weighs smaller hospital designation to improve finances

NewsBreak

PORT ANGELES — Olympic Medical Center is exploring whether operating as a smaller hospital could help secure its financial future, but commissioners are ra

OMC weighs smaller hospital designation to improve finances

Comments / 3