Indiana University Health Blackford announced it will be stopping emergency care and inpatient care services in the near future, due to reduction in patient volume.

Jeffrey Bird, president of IU Health’s East Central Region, said in a release they’re taking steps to “right-size” services to match the declining patient volume.

According to 2022 census data, Blackford County has a population of 11,919, with 22% of the population over the age of 65. Additionally, 17.4% under the age of 65 have a disability and 13% of the population is under the poverty line.

Indiana Hospital Association president Brian Tabor said in an email that while the decision is largely due to declining occupancy, he expects “more reductions in services over the coming months” due to federal reimbursement cuts, continuing staffing shortages and the “overall fragile state of hospitals’ finances.”

IU Health’s neighboring hospitals Ball Memorial here in Muncie and Portland will provide emergency care, which are 36 minutes south and 30 minutes east of Blackford hospital, respectively.

The hospital will continue primary healthcare and outpatient services.