[ad_1]
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon legislators have voiced their concerns for the upcoming closure of labor and delivery services at Providence Seaside.
In a letter sent to President and CEO Erik Wexler on Tuesday, Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici urged Providence Health & Services to aid affected families in their search for safe maternal health care. Lawmakers also advised the company to support the employees whose jobs will be cut as part of the shutdown.
“Providence Seaside Hospital has served a wide geographic area along the Oregon coast for nearly 50 years, and its closure could force patients to travel long distances to receive both routine and emergency obstetric care,” Merkley, Wyden and Bonamici wrote. “In addition, this closure would likely create an undue burden for many families, especially those with limited funds, limited transportation, or complex medical needs, and it may cause them to bypass necessary care.”
Providence announced the closure last week, revealing that its Seaside hospital will no longer offer labor and delivery services, newborn inpatient care and outpatient prenatal or surgical gynecological care with an OB/GYN physician starting on Oct. 4.
The shutdown is happening as health care companies throughout Oregon experience a “historic reset,” according to Providence Seaside Hospital CEO Rebecca Coplin and Providence Women & Children’s Services Executive Director Kristine Bell.
“Hospitals across the state, including Providence, are grappling with the reality that the cost of care continues to outpace reimbursement — driven by inflation, workforce shortages, and rising supply costs,” Coplin and Bell wrote in the joint message. “We find ourselves at a point where we must take steps to ensure we can continue to provide high-quality care and pay our caregivers competitive wages.”
Executives said the Seaside facility has seen a “significant” decline in delivery volumes, with 56 recorded in 2023 and 66 recorded last year. They also noted that its last remaining OB/GYN retired on Aug. 1, and the company has struggled to recruit a replacement for almost two years.
And according to Providence, the hospital is located within 30 minutes of two facilities with similar services — Columbia Memorial Hospital and Astoria Birth Center.
Although Merkley, Wyden and Bonamici recognized the economic challenges impacting labor and delivery services, they have argued that “minutes matter for parents and newborns.” In a release, the lawmakers noted that Samaritan Health Services is considering axing maternity services at its Lebanon and Lincoln City hospitals as well.
[ad_2]
Jashayla Pettigrew
Source link