Two Alaska hospitals facing financial challenges will consider consolidation.
KCAW-FM reports the Sitka Community Hospital board plans to discuss possible courses of action at a Monday work session.
Hospital CEO Rob Allen says the hospitals are anticipating the needs of an aging population as well as less funding from the state.
ECG Management Consultants came up with three options for Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium’s Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital and the Sitka Community Hospital.
The hospitals can do nothing, collaborate on operations in some areas or put both hospitals under the same management.
The consultant says doing nothing would not solve financial issues and would mean uncertainty for hospital staff and patients.
