Calais (Maine) Regional Hospital said in a news release it will no longer deliver babies, effective by the end of this year.
The hospital said it will close the obstetrics unit "following a careful review of the service line and operations."
CRH attributed the decision, at least partly, to a decline in the number of deliveries. Since 2007, the hospital said deliveries fell by nearly 50 percent — from more than 100 annual births to just 60 births in 2016. The hospital noted Maine's nursing shortage is also a contributing factor.
"The review revealed that the hospital could no longer sustain the operation of the unit due to the declining number of births at the hospital — and the heavy financial losses experienced by the unit," officials said.
CRH said the hospital will notify patients and referring physicians of the pending unit closure and "work to ensure a smooth transition for patients." Officials also noted there are no plans to reduce staff due to the closure of the obstetrics unit, as staff members in the unit will be able to relocate to other hospital departments. "Staff in the emergency department will be trained and prepared to address emergency deliveries, and the emergency department will be equipped to monitor babies born during emergency deliveries," they added.