In the last two weeks several hospitals announced plans to shutter maternity units or cease obstetrics services to shore up finances, focus on more in-demand services or improve patient care.
Here's a list of the closures, reported by Becker's Hospital Review:
1. Illinois hospital to end inpatient labor, delivery services May 31
Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, Ill., will stop offering inpatient labor and delivery services May 31.
2. Vermont hospital closes 105-year-old birthing unit
Springfield (Vt.) Hospital closed its childbirth center May 3 after 105 years.
3. New York hospital to shutter maternity unit, lay off 41
Lockport, N.Y.-based Eastern Niagara Hospital will close its maternity unit and eliminate dialysis, express care and X-ray services at its facility in Newfane, N.Y.
4. Illinois hospital suspends inpatient labor, delivery and urology services
Galesburg (Ill.) Cottage Hospital will suspend inpatient labor, delivery and urology services May 2.
5. Rural Michigan hospital to close maternity unit, affecting 15 jobs
Munson Healthcare Manistee (Mich.) Hospital will close its maternity unit May 31, affecting 15 jobs.
6. Pennsylvania hospital to end maternity, pediatric services after UPMC ends affiliation
Uniontown (Pa.) Hospital will close its pediatric department and maternity unit June 30. The decision came after the hospital re-evaluated services after Pittsburgh-based UPMC said it would end its clinical affiliation with the facility this summer.