CentraCare Health - Monticello is closing its 10-bed Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation unit in September.

 

Last week at a special public hearing, the Monticello-Big Lake Hospital District Board voted unanimously to close the unit in order to restructure rehabilitation services.

 

Administrator Mary Ellen Wells said the unit cares for patients who need intense rehabilitation services - people who have had a stroke, serious brain injury or physical injury.

 

Some need occupational therapy,  physical therapy and in some cases, speech therapy. The average stay is between 14 and 20 days.

 

The unit started in 2008 using an outside firm, RehabCare. In was taken over in-house once the hospital joined CentraCare, said Wells.

 

“After a few months with CentraCare we realized the talent that existed in our own company,” she said.

 

But the unit has seen a gradual decline in the number of clients over the years. Some of those patients were referred from other hospitals and clinics. Wells said those referrals have also declined.

 

“We used to have a steady stream of referrals from other hospitals,” she said. “In the past year, they have opened transitional care units where they can take care of patients.”

 

In order for the unit to break even, it needs a average of six patients a day. A census done for fiscal years 2014-2016 shows the unit has an average of under three patients. The net loss for the unit is $854,290. 

 

More strict guidelines were also a consideration for closing the unit, with a minimum number of staff and specialists required to be on site regardless of how many patients are there. 

 

For example,  Dr. Jeffrey Derr, who specializes in physical medication and rehabilitation, must be there 20 hours a week whether there are 10 patients or just one.

 

Wells said that’s not serving the community, nor other patients who need his services.

 

She said there are still other options once the unit closes, including the Care Center, Transitional Care Program and transferring patients to the St. Cloud Acute Rehabilitation unit, which has 20 beds.

 

CentraCare is working with the unions that represent staff that will be affected by the closure - about 20 nurses, nurses aides and therapists.

 

“We’re looking at maximizing staff potential. We have a growing in-patient service where we believe many of the nurses can transfer and work full time,” said Wells. “We have a growing transitional care unit and openings in the care center.”

She said the unit will be re-purposed to serve the community better. But there are no specific plans yet.

 

Board Chair Sheldon Johnson said the change will serve the community.

 

“It’s a good example of the medical field evolving just like so many other professions,” he said. “We have a facility here that we have to put to as good use for the community as we can.”

 

CentraCare CFO Greg Klugherz had a similar comment.

 

“CentraCare believes in its duty to serve the members of the communities here - the communities that founded this hospital,” he said. “This decision doesn’t diminish that in any way.”

 

Wells said the goal is to close the unit by Sept. 1.