ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Renee Korte is grateful for St. Luke's Medical Weight Management Clinic.
Korte said, "Healthwise I have my health back. I'm down almost to a healthy weight range."
Korte told 5 On Your Side she had surgery but it wasn't enough. After losing 80 pounds, her weight stalled and she was referred to the clinic to lose 40 more pounds.
For almost a year, she's been going. She's been able to lose 25 pounds and has six months left in the program.
However, a vital resource for her may be taken away from others.
"These people were getting healthy, I was getting healthy. I'm very disappointed, extremely disappointed," she said.
Friday morning at her appointment, she learned unfortunate news.
"Everything was going great, but she said, 'We have a little bad news. Our clinic is closing,' and my mouth hit the floor," Korte said.
Just 24 hours prior, a letter to the St. Luke's team explained the changes coming.
The letter explained over the past year, it has developed its ONE St. Luke's Strategic Plan.
It also shared that the COVID-19 pandemic changed the entire industry and it was still adapting to the following realities:
- Intense competition for state and providers due to labor shortages
- Inflation has increased expenses (labor, pharmaceuticals, equipment, etc.)
- Unprecedented denials and delays of payment for care provided
- Expenses are outpacing reimbursement for healthcare services
- The shift from inpatient to outpatient care has negatively impacted reimbursement
The letter then said that while these decisions are difficult, they were necessary for the long-term strength and sustainability of the organization. It acknowledged the impact these changes have on staff and encouraged them to apply for open positions within St. Luke's.
- Over the next several months, the Vascular Access Center at Frontenac will wind down services and consolidate into existing services offered on its Chesterfield campus
- Quick Care for Kids will close on Feb. 19th - patients will be encouraged to use its existing urgent care sites, emergency departments, or individual providers for their care
- The Inpatient Pediatric nursing division will close operations next week. Pediatricians will remain available on a 24/7 basis for the Chesterfield Emergency Department and Well Baby Nursery
- The Medical Weight Management Clinic will no longer provide services within the St. Luke's Medical Group after April 5
- Over the next few months, the St. Luke's Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic will transition and will no longer be under St. Luke's Medical Group
- It adjusted the number of providers in its employed OB/GYN group and Breast Surgeon clinic to match patient volume and patients will be transitioned to the remaining providers.
St. Luke's is not affiliated with Saint Luke’s in Kansas City, so the BJC/Saint Luke’s merger does not impact the organization in any way.
"This was one of the biggest resources St. Louis had and now it's going to be gone. I am fortunate because I am nearing the end of my journey but there are people who are just beginning their journey. I remember what it was like being that heavy, being that depressed and the one thing that gave me hope was that initial appointment and that got taken away from so many people," Korte shared.
The letter was surprising to former St. Luke's employee Aimee Meyer.
"I received a letter from someone who works at St. Luke’s stating that they were closing various departments. We heard some rumors but to the capacity that was in this letter, people were not aware of that until the letter went out," Meyer said.
Some of Meyer's friends are still employed at St. Luke's.
Meyer is concerned for their roles and patients like Korte.
Meyer added, "I know in the weight management clinic alone there are 5,000 patients in that unit. It's unfortunate for the patients who had long-standing services at St. Luke's and left to be, 'Where do I go next?' I really worry for those folks who are compassionate and committed on what they do. Are they going to be able to weather this?"
A media relations manager with St. Luke's shared this statement:
"St. Luke’s is taking proactive measures to ensure resources are allocated appropriately to support its comprehensive strategic plan. It will also focus on growth and enhancing access to care to ensure patients receive seamless, timely healthcare when and where they need it.
“'By proactively adapting to market dynamics, we are safeguarding our independence and ensuring we continue providing the nationally recognized care and quality that St. Luke’s is known for,' said Andy Bagnall, President, and CEO. 'By making strategic adjustments today, we ensure we are a stronger, more resilient, and robust health system tomorrow, and well positioned for ongoing long-term success.'
"Like healthcare organizations nationwide St. Luke’s has experienced unprecedented pressures due to high inflation, labor shortages, and reimbursement challenges. The effort to proactively realign resources is designed to ensure it is well adapted to the changed healthcare landscape and remains a thriving, independent healthcare organization for years to come."