Dignity Health's St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, Calif., will close its pediatric unit, effective July 1.
"The decision comes after careful consideration and evaluation of patient volumes and community needs for pediatric services," the hospital, part of San Francisco-based Dignity Health, said in an April 29 news release shared with Becker's.
St. Mary specifically pointed to more families seeking specialized children's hospitals or urgent care centers for their children's care.
"Despite efforts to maintain adequate patient volumes and staffing levels, the pediatric unit faced challenges," the hospital said.
With the closure of the pediatric unit at St. Mary, the hospital has partnered again with MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach.
St. Mary has established a working relationship with Miller Children's over the years to care for pediatric patients, and partnering will help ensure a smooth transition for affected patients and families, St. Mary said.
St. Mary will continue to care for children in its emergency department, as well as provide women's services, including labor and delivery. The hospital said it is committed to supporting employees directly affected by the closure through the transition process, and that it is focusing on expanding and enhancing its neuroscience service line with a new biplane suite.
St. Mary is a 389-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital, according to the release. The MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women’s Hospital Long Beach main campus houses 357 licensed pediatric and women's beds, according to its website.