Saint Vincent Hospital is reopening two outpatient services, which were closed in August due to staffing challenges, the Worcester healthcare provider announced Wednesday.
In August, the majority of the hospital’s unionized nursing staff was on strike amid a larger, ongoing, and industry-wide staffing crisis. The strike officially ended on Jan. 3 after 301 days.
The two services to reopen include the cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs.
Cardiac rehabilitation is comprised of a 12-week program helping patients recuperate after a heart attack or heart procedure, per the announcement. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a seven to 10-week program helping patients who have shortness of breath, typically after being hospitalized due to a respiratory condition.
“The reopening of these services is a starting point, and we look forward to opening more services as we move back towards normal operations,” said hospital CEO Carolyn Jackson, in a statement.
