The Greene County Medical Center has announced the closure of the Long Term Care Department.

The Board of Trustees made the unanimous decision during its Thursday public meeting to close the facility on September 28th. Before making the choice to close the department, the Board considered many options over the past three years, including building a new facility, remodeling the existing facility to adhere to today’s standards with the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals requirements, along with transferring or selling the on-site operating license to another management company. The Board determined that all options were cost prohibitive with the age of the facility, as well as the construction costs and acquiring building materials.

Currently, Long Term Care houses 34 residents, and at its highest point they had 60 residents on the second floor of the medical center. CEO Chad Butterfield says the hospital had been losing money keeping Long Term Care open at essentially half capacity.

“It’s safe to say the negative impact that the medical center, over the last few years has been significant operating the Long Term Care. We believe it is in the best interest of the taxpayers that we move this direction and the Greene County Medical Center trying to ensure that we’re here for years to come.”   

Board Chair Jim Schleisman says in his tenure on the board, this was one of the most difficult decisions he has made.

“I waffled between ‘yes’ and ‘no’ because of the interest of the hospital, I had to agree that it was time to do it. I was very saddened by the decision. But with all the factors considered, I believe it was the best option for our residents to place them in a facility of their choice. Yes it was the most difficult decision I have had to make.”    

The medical center is working with Accura HealthCare to assist those current residents and their families to find alternate facilities as part of the closure plan for Long Term Care.