Neighborhood Hospitals Rapidly Disappearing in New York

Nineteen small hospitals in New York City have closed since 2000 and two more will soon follow suit as independent medical centers, particularly those in poorer communities, fall victim to the changing economics of health care, writes the Associated Press.

Experts say neighborhood hospitals in New York and other older urban areas will continue to face fiscal straits as revenue from government health programs such as Medicaid shrinks and political leaders show less inclination to bail out struggling institutions in an era in which care is focused more on outpatient treatment and less on hospital beds.

“The big picture here is a health care system that is less hospital-dependent,” said James Tallon, president of the nonprofit United Hospital Fund.