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UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown to close ICU, cafe after $7 million loss year

T-R FILE PHOTO - Shown is the entrance to UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown’s hospital at its downtown campus.

UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown announced it will be closing the intensive care unit effective Nov. 30.

The closure of the ICU and The Bistro cafe comes after posting a year-to-date loss of $7 million, according to a release. The Marshalltown units are behind budget twice as much as anticipated. The ICU is located in the northside campus while the cafe is located in the southside campus.

“Decisions such as this are very difficult but necessary if we are to course correct and place Marshalltown on a path to financial sustainability,” UnityPoint leaders said in the release. “As health care continues to change we must make thoughtful, strategic decisions that position our organization for the future and support our ability to carry out our mission over the long-term.”

The ICU has averaged one patient per day, according to the release, and the cafe is operating at a significant loss.

Earlier this year, UnityPoint also closed the local Catheterization Lab, which offered 24/7 emergency cardiac care. The hospital is the only full-service medical center in its area and more than 60,000 residents utilize it for a wide variety of health care services. Area residents will have to travel to hospitals in Grinnell, Ames, Des Moines or Waterloo — 30 minutes or more away — to receive the services that have been cut.

The closures will leave 15 people without jobs. An additional 10 non-patient care positions, both full-time and part-time, are being eliminated. UnityPoint officials are connecting these employees with other jobs the organization has open, according to the release.

This announcement comes a few weeks following the VP of Operations Dustin Wright’s resignation from UnityPoint – Marshalltown to become CEO with Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars. Wright took over in Marshalltown two weeks after UnityPoint Health Marshalltown officially took possession after purchasing Central Iowa Healthcare assets during bankruptcy proceedings earlier in 2017.

“In order for UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown to remain in the community, we must be financially viable as well as have the support of the community, using local services,” the release said.

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the ICU is located at the north campus and The Bistro is located at the south campus.

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