(Pawtucket, RI) -- The state Department of Health is approving the closing of the emergency department at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket. The decision is effective January 1st and officials say that closes the hospital. The approval is conditioned upon the hospital's owners, Care New England to operate a walk-in clinic and provide funds to Pawtucket and Central Falls to offset driving to other emergency departments. Care New England decided to close the hospital after years of operating millions of dollars in the red.