The alarming trend of rural hospitals closing their maternity wards is putting the health of countless mothers and babies at risk. As more rural communities lose access to essential obstetric (OB) care, it's imperative to find innovative solutions to bridge the gap. Understanding the root causes of this crisis and exploring how we can use technology and collaboration to address this issue is vital to safeguarding maternal health in rural areas.
The health impacts of rural maternity ward closures
More than half of all rural U.S. counties have stopped providing labor and delivery services. A perfect storm of complicated issues like declining U.S. birth rates, staffing challenges, financial losses, shrinking reimbursement rates, and more are driving the tough decision to eliminate OB care. The reduction in obstetric rural health services means expectant mothers must travel long distances to obtain prenatal and delivery care—a hardship for those without reliable transportation and flexible schedules.
In addition, the amount of time a new mom spends in an OB unit after giving birth has decreased from four to five days to only one or two. With fewer mothers and their newborns to care for, obstetrics units are not exposed to as many patients over time, which can lead to fewer training opportunities and less care coordination between rural health providers. In a JAMA 2023 study, researchers found women were more likely to suffer serious complications if they gave birth in rural hospitals that handled 110 or fewer births a year. However, the researchers also identified improving training and coordination, instead of closing low-volume units, would positively impact mother and newborn outcomes.
Improving rural maternal health through virtual care
Establishing an integrated OB virtual care and ongoing monitoring program for rural health provider-to-patient and provider-to-provider interactions could help break down the barriers to rural maternal well-being. Virtual care enhances prenatal planning access for expectant mothers and helps to alleviate the burden of getting to an in-person appointment. Additionally, rural health OB providers can collaborate virtually with nearby metropolitan OB high-risk specialists to discuss any rising patient risks or complications.
Although the use of virtual care skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains a viable option, there are obstacles rural facilities need to overcome to put virtual care programs in place, including improving high-speed internet access and advancing digital health literacy.
Addressing the unique challenges of rural healthcare
Rural health facilities need access to resources, partnerships, and expertise which often cannot be covered by their limited budgets. With maternal mortality and morbidity rising, it’s imperative we break this vicious cycle and protect our rural health services.
Microsoft and Nordic, in collaboration with CHIME, recently launched the Rural Health IT Community. This initiative is intended to address the unique challenges in rural healthcare that historically have been hard to overcome. The Rural Health IT Community will serve as a dedicated forum to advocate for new programs and services specific to rural healthcare needs. The community is open to all digital health leaders and solution providers interested in supporting the needs of this critical healthcare market.
The future of rural maternal health depends on our collective efforts. By raising awareness, advocating for policy change, and supporting innovative solutions, we can work together to ensure that everyone, regardless of their location, has access to the care they need.
Interested in joining the Rural Health IT Community? Visit the website to learn more.