Vibra Healthcare to Close Portland Long-Term Acute Care Hospital
Vibra Healthcare Announces Hospital Closure in Portland
Vibra Healthcare plans to permanently close Vibra Specialty Hospital of Portland, Oregon's only long-term acute care hospital. The company informed state labor officials in a Monday notice that operations will end in early February. The closure includes the layoff of all 310 employees.
The notice stated that ongoing financial challenges made continued operation unsustainable. The organization has stopped admitting new patients to the 73-bed hospital. The closure affects clinical and leadership staff across multiple departments.
Details on Workforce Reductions
The planned closure will eliminate 95 registered nurse positions and 41 certified nursing assistant roles. It will also remove 23 licensed practical nurse positions and 22 respiratory therapist roles. Leadership positions, including the chief clinical officer, chief executive officer, and several department directors, will also be cut.
Vibra Healthcare reported that all employees will be affected by the shutdown. The closure of the Portland facility removes the only long-term acute care option of its kind in the state. The company did not identify alternative staffing or operational plans to replace the facility.
Patient Transition Plans
The hospital will discharge current patients over the next 60 days. Patients will be transferred to skilled nursing homes, inpatient care hospitals, or home health care settings. The facility previously treated medically complex patients requiring extended specialized care.
Vibra Healthcare has taken patients from hospitals in Medford, Klamath Falls, and Boise. The nearest other long-term acute care hospitals are located in Seattle, Boise, and Redding, California. The company stated that patient discharges will continue until operations cease.
Financial Factors Behind the Closure
According to the company’s notice, financial strain resulted from flat insurer reimbursements and rising operational costs. Vibra Healthcare also cited an increase in prior-authorization denials, which affected patient transfers from general acute care hospitals. These factors collectively contributed to declining revenue and the decision to close the Portland facility.
Background of the Facility
Vibra Healthcare purchased the former Woodland Park Hospital in 2006. The company reopened the facility as Vibra Specialty Hospital of Portland in 2008. The planned shutdown ends nearly two decades of long-term acute care services at the location.