Evaluating the Impact of Hospital Closure on Local Emergency Department Operations.

BACKGROUND: The January 1, 2018 closure of Memorial Hospital of RI (MHRI) has anecdotally resulted in operational strain for the area's remaining EDs. This study seeks to evaluate the impact on neighboring facilities. METHODS: An interrupted time-series analysis was conducted to compare operational outcomes and demographics pre- and post-MHRI closure. Three hospitals were selected from the same health system: Miriam Hospital, Rhode Island Hospital, and Newport Hospital. RESULTS: In the first 12 months following MHRI's closure, there were significant increases in monthly ED volume, length of stay, and left without being seen rates at two area hospitals. There was also a significant diversification of the patient population at these sites. The most substantial impact was noted at Miriam Hospital, the closest remaining facility. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates operational strain and an evolving patient population at neighboring EDs following MHRI's closure. These findings suggest the need for additional resource allocation to support clinical care and logistics.