Sidney Hospital to Lose Overnight Emergency Care
Effective May 1, 2020, A.O. Fox Hospital’s Tri-Town Campus in Sidney, part of Bassett Healthcare Network, will transition to a daytime schedule. The facility’s emergency services will operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
“After many months of consideration, A.O. Fox Hospital has decided to move forward with this operational model to better serve our community members in Sidney and its surrounding areas,” explains Jeff Joyner, president of A.O. Fox Hospital. "A physician-staffed emergency department, laboratory, and radiology services will remain available at Fox’s Tri-Town Campus, along with a variety of specialty services including orthopedic care. Patients who need a higher level of care will continue to be transported to the closest acute care hospital appropriate to their medical condition.”
Tri-Town’s Emergency Department receives an average of just three patients per night (2.76 to be exact), including on the weekends. “We have seen declining visitation trends over time,” says Joyner. “This operational model is becoming more widely adopted nationwide by rural emergency facilities. In order to sustain operations at Fox’s Tri-Town Campus – a vital location for health services in the tri-county region – we must do all we can to ensure that this facility remains financially stable and well-positioned for many years to come. With a more efficient operational model in place, Fox can prioritize other needs and technological upgrades for Tri-Town, including the installation of state-of-the-art CT scan equipment. In addition, we are exploring extending primary care hours in the Sidney region to accommodate same-day appointment needs.”
Patients and providers at Tri-Town will continue to use a single electronic health care record and telemedicine technology, connecting community members to advanced specialty care across the greater Bassett Healthcare Network.
"We acknowledge the concerns of Sidney and its neighboring communities when these new hours of operation take effect," says Joyner. "We want to assure our community members that the same amazing team of clinicians and staff will be available to them here at Tri-Town all day every day. This emergency department is not going anywhere. Improving the health of our patients and the well-being of our communities remains our foremost priority.”