As part of its ongoing efforts to stabilize its finances, the MetroHealth system announced Monday that it will close six outpatient facilities in the Cleveland area, including a dental clinic, effective October 3rd.
The affected locations include:
Broadview Heights Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy Center
Old Brooklyn Medical Center Dental Clinic
Medina Health Center
Rocky River Medical Offices
North Royalton State Road Family Clinic
Westlake YMCA Physical Therapy Center
MetroHealth stated that the system has expanded significantly over the past decade, but the additional locations have led to duplication of services and decreased efficiency. The closures will help the health system consolidate resources and focus on providing more services at larger centers.
The organization noted that charity care spending has doubled since 2022, currently exceeding $1 million per day, and that the cuts, coupled with Medicaid cuts and an uncertain funding outlook, have forced it to make these cuts. MetroHealth is projecting an operating loss of $50 million in 2024, with losses projected to widen further in 2025.
“Amidst challenging financial circumstances, we must continually seek ways to operate more efficiently. Closing these facilities, while difficult, will help us focus our resources where they are most needed,” CEO Dr. Kristen Alexander-Reger said in a statement.
Some services and staff will be transferred to larger MetroHealth facilities, and the remaining locations will operate with extended hours. Patients will be notified of any schedule adjustments.
The closures come after the system laid off approximately 125 employees a few weeks ago. Other regional health systems, such as the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, have also implemented layoffs or downsizing measures due to economic pressures.
MetroHealth will still operate more than 20 outpatient locations and plans to build a new outpatient health center on its main campus in 2026, with a drive-through pharmacy expected to open in 2027.