Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth-Hitchcock officials said the health system's reproductive endocrinology and infertility program will be discontinued by the end of May, according to a Valley News report.
Edward Merrens, MD, chief clinical officer of Dartmouth-Hitchcock, said in a phone interview with Valley News Monday that officials decided to end the program due to "staffing and resource issues."
He said officials opted to discontinue the program now because there would be "minimal disruption to patients' care" due to a low amount of future scheduled services, according to the report. Financial reasons were reportedly not a factor in the decision.
Dr. Merrens said the program's three physicians will remain on staff for the rest of the month to explain the situation to the program's 124 patients. The closing will affect all Dartmouth-Hitchcock locations that offer infertility services in New Hampshire, including facilities in Lebanon, Brattleboro, Bedford, Concord and Nashua.
The health system will maintain its infertility laboratory and continue to preserve samples for people who choose to transfer the samples to other facilities in the area, Dr. Merrens said. Officials will also reportedly reimburse patients who made down payments on services not yet provided.
"We're hoping no one's cycles and timing will be affected," said Dr. Merrens. "Having a child, especially when you've struggled, is one of the most emotional issues … The relationships [patients have] had with physicians, nurses and people on the team has been very important. [We] have not wanted money to be a factor."