Bismarck hospital ending funding for parish nurse program

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) Bismarck's Medcenter One says that starting next year it will no longer fund a program that provides nursing services through area churches.

President and CEO James C. Cooper cites a 3.5 million dollar shortfall in Medicare funding.

The 13 local churches that employ parish nurses to provide care to parishioners now must decide whether to pay the entire cost.

Pastors say that could be a problem.

Medcenter had been paying half of the nurses' salaries plus benefits.

Medcenter is offering to continue having the nurses as part of its health care system. It just won't contribute financially, starting January Seventh.

Kathy Nordquist is the parish nurse at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck. She says she hopes the parishes will find a way to continue the program, even if it's only on a reduced level. The nurses currently make about 1,500 patient contacts a month.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 12-05-07 0733CST | save this article / add to your favorites list