Graham (Texas) Regional Medical Center will discontinue labor and delivery services in 30 days due to budget constraints, according to a Graham Leader report.
Scott Landrum, CEO of GRMC, said the hospital will no longer deliver babies, phasing the service out over the next month. However, the service could be reopened in the future if the hospital decides to recruit OB/GYN physicians, Mr. Landrum said, according to the report.
In a news release issued Tuesday afternoon, the hospital attributed the decision to increasing governmental cutbacks. GRMC will close its labor and delivery department to meet a $550,000 deficit in the pending fiscal year 2016 budget, which begins Oct. 1.
"We regret this necessary decision and recognize the inconvenience it creates for our patients, employees and community," the hospital said in a statement, according to the report. "We [hope] our community will be aware of our efforts as we navigate through the increasing governmental cutbacks and support us during this transition. In order to survive, we must evolve."
The labor and delivery space at GRMC will be repurposed for use by the post operative and medical/surgery nursing departments, according to the statement. Jeffrey Gilbertson, MD, another local physician who delivers babies, released a statement that his practice will continue to see patients in Graham.
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