By AP/KWMU
East St. Louis, Ill. – East St. Louis' century-old hospital will slash its services as part of its planned merger with nearby Touchette Regional Hospital in Centreville. That's the word from Larry McManus, Kenneth Hall's chief operating officer.
Kenneth Hall will continue offering emergency room services, as will Touchette. And Kenneth Hall will still provide outpatient mental health services.
But McManus says all eight of Kenneth Hall's intensive-care unit beds will be moved to Touchette for a total of 12. And all 115 medical surgical beds at Kenneth Hall will be eliminated.
McManus cited steep financial losses, the need to end duplication of services at both hospitals and declining local populations for the envisioned cuts.