State hospital regulators have scheduled a public hearing on Thursday for Johnson Memorial Hospital’s proposal to close its Enfield outpatient rehabilitation facility.
State hospital regulators have scheduled a public hearing on Thursday for Johnson Memorial Hospital’s proposal to close its Enfield outpatient rehabilitation facility.
Trinity Health Of New England, which owns and operates Johnson Memorial, St. Francis Hospital and three others in the state,
filed an application with the state Office of Health Strategy in September to determine whether it needs permission to close the outpatient cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services facility located at 15 Palomba Drive.
Under state regulations, a CON is required before hospitals and other healthcare providers can make major changes, including establishing certain new healthcare facilities, transferring ownership or terminating services.
In a statement provided to Hartford Business Journal in September, THONE officials said the bid to close the facility was due to “declining volumes that have resulted from shifting care models and referral pattern changes.”
The Enfield facility provides cardiac and pulmonary physical rehabilitation and education, support, lifestyle coaching and nutrition counseling services.
The health system stated at the time that it is experiencing workforce challenges, with limited provider capacity and access in cardiac rehab services.
The application said THONE provides cardiac and pulmonary rehab services at locations in Hartford and Waterbury, and would continue to provide those services.
OHS determined in October that a CON is necessary for THONE to close the facility.
Thursday’s public hearing will open with the technical portion at 9:30 a.m., with public comment immediately following that. OHS said the meeting will be held virtually via the TEAMS platform.
Information about the hearing is available
here.
