Bellville Hospital will be needed to find a new operating partner.
On Tuesday, CHI St. Joseph Health released a statement saying they will wind down hospital operations over a 90-day period and by May 7, they will no longer operate Bellville Hospital. The hospital will continue searching for a new partner.
CHI St.Joseph began operations in Bellville in 2013, and they plus Bellville Hospital have worked to overcome many obstacles a rural hospital faces, including declining patient volumes and reduced reimbursement rates.
Due to the geographic distance and Bellville Hospital’s designation as an “acute care hospital,” rather than a “critical access hospital,” it became difficult to sustain a model of rural healthcare in the community.
Bellville Hospital has had a 90 year history of serving residents of the community and Austin County. While the search continues, the community will have the option to go to Houston and Katy for their healthcare needs.
Patients with questions about the transition and the aftermath of the transition can call 979-413-7128. We will update you on this story as we get more here on Willy 1550 and 98.7 FM.