SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Assessing Hospitalist Perceptions of the Impact of Nearby Hospital Closures on Providers and Patients

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This project examines how the 2022 closure of Atlanta Medical Center, a nearby safety-net hospital, affected Emory hospitalists’ wellness, morale, work-life balance, and perceptions of patient care. The study addresses a gap in the literature, which has focused more on rural hospital closures than on urban closures and their effects on providers.<br /><br />Researchers conducted structured virtual interviews with hospitalists and advanced practice providers across day and night shifts at community and teaching hospitals. The goal is to interview 20–40 clinicians; this interim report reflects 10 interviews completed so far. Using a phenomenological framework and rapid qualitative analysis, the team identified early themes related to staffing, workload, care continuity, and provider response.<br /><br />Preliminary findings suggest that AMC’s closure created a sudden influx of medically complex, high-acuity patients at a time when staffing had not fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants described negative effects on work-life balance and morale, including feeling overworked, “treading water,” and in some cases seeing colleagues resign. Clinicians also reported frustration when caring for patients who needed specialized services no longer available at their referral hospital, such as psychiatric or mother-baby care.<br /><br />At the same time, providers noted positive responses: leadership quickly increased staffing, which improved morale; colleagues and ancillary staff stepped up; and hospital operations eventually adapted. Health information exchanges were considered useful for accessing outside records, but information was often disorganized and hard to find. Participants felt patient care was initially harmed less by the high census itself than by disruption in patients’ usual care and limited transportation or support, which complicated follow-up and discharge planning.<br /><br />Overall, the study suggests that urban safety-net hospital closure can strain hospitalists and disrupt patient care, but rapid staffing responses and team support may help mitigate some of the harm.

Asset Subtitle

Mary Ann K. Hall

Meta Tag

Author List Mary Ann K. Hall, Robert Parker, Sara Turbow, Sarah G. Jung, TaRessa Wills, Yoo Mee Shin

Category Research

Concept Safety-Net Hospital

Concept Hospital Closure

Concept Patient Care

Concept Hospitalist

Concept Continuity of Care

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Emory University School of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine

Presenting Author Mary Ann K. Hall

Track Outcomes Research

Keywords

Atlanta Medical Center closure

urban hospital closure

hospitalist wellness

work-life balance

provider morale

patient care continuity

staffing shortages

high-acuity patients

safety-net hospital

qualitative interviews

Safety-Net Hospital

Hospital Closure

Patient Care

Hospitalist

Continuity of Care