Smithtown, N.Y.-based St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, part of Rockville Centre, N.Y.-based Catholic Health, is shutting down its maternity ward Feb. 1.
"The voluntary OB/GYN physicians providing maternity care at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital will leave their current employer, and as part of their new contract, will no longer be able to provide maternity care at our hospital," a Catholic Health spokesperson told Becker's in a statement.
Due to changing circumstances, the spokesperson said both St. Catherine and Catholic Health are submitting a proposed closure plan to the New York State Department of Health to end the hospital's maternity service program.
Labor and delivery services have continued to take a hit over the years, with only 45% of U.S. rural hospitals currently offering them.
"Once the closure plan is approved by the DOH, we will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure continuity of care for our valued patients during this transition," the spokesperson said.
To decertify beds or close services, a limited review certificate of need application and a health equity impact assessment must be submitted together, along with a closure plan to the New York State Department of Health, a spokesperson for the state's DOH told Becker's in a statement.
"To date, the department has not received a certificate of need and required health equity impact assessment, nor the closure plan from Catholic Health. The department cannot review the application until all required documents are submitted," the spokesperson said.