Seattle-based Virginia Mason Medical Center, part of Tacoma, Wash.-based Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, will close its Family Birth Center and Franciscan Women's Health Associates Clinic, effective Nov. 16, as the result of a review of current and future needs at the hospital.
Along with the closures, the hospital plans to expand its critical care capacity Nov. 16, Monica Hilt, president of Virginia Mason Medical Center, said in an Oct. 2 statement shared with Becker's.
"We have seen consistently low utilization of the Family Birth Center in Seattle, suggesting that the community's needs are being met by other available maternity services nearby, while the need for critical care continues to grow each year," Ms. Hilt said.
Maternity care will continue to be offered at five other VMFH hospital birth centers. Virginia Mason Medical Center will also continue to offer women's health services following the closure.
The hospital is working with patients affected by the closure to develop "personalized plans" for continued care, according to the statement.