Saint Luke’s closing two community hospitals in Johnson County at end of the year
Saint Luke’s Health System will close two of its community hospitals in Johnson County in December.
The Overland Park locations — at 75th Street and Metcalf Avenue, and 159th Street and U.S. 69 — will close on Dec. 30, the hospital system announced Thursday.
Employees there will be able to apply for other jobs within the hospital system.
“Overall, our community hospital model has performed remarkably well, and has allowed us to effectively expand access in a critical segment of our market,” Bobby Olm-Shipman, Saint Luke’s south and east region CEO, said in a statement.
“However, two of our locations have seen lower patient volumes since opening, and as we look at ways to provide care while operating as efficiently as possible during this challenging time, we have made the decision to close these two locations.”
Saint Luke’s opened community hospitals in 2018 to relieve overcrowding and long wait times at emergency rooms, and give patients access to inpatient care closer to home.
“Our community hospitals have been incredibly well-received by patients,” said Olm-Shipman. “Though two locations are closing — and may be utilized as sites for future service offerings — the community hospital model is successful and here to stay.”
Five other community hospitals will remain open — in Leawood, Olathe, Roeland Park, Shawnee and at The Legends in Wyandotte County.
The health system announced in June that it was closing Saint Luke’s Cushing Hospital in Leavenworth, citing financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hospital was just a few months into a new model for the hospital that focused on emergency services when the pandemic hit. About 70 employees were affected by the closure. The official closing date was Thursday.
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