Local maternity programs shut down, patients forced to find new … – WVTM13 Birmingham
Brookwood Baptist ended maternity programs at two local hospitals this week.Shelby Baptist Medical Center and Princeton Baptist Medical Center stopped services Wednesday, leaving patients looking for new providers.Madonna Nichols, administrative director of women and children’s services at St. Vincent’s in Birmingham, said they’re expecting an increase in patients because of this, and they’re ready.”We do about 3,600 to 3,800 births here,” Nichols said. “And I think we’re anticipating in the neighborhood of 100 to 200. So, for us, that’s not a very large increase.”Nichols said while there are many hospitals in Birmingham that can pick up the patient load, she’s concerned for patients living in rural areas.”To see us increase more maternity deserts where maternity care is not available to patients is quite concerning to me,” Nichols said.In a statement, Brookwood Baptist said the closures will “allow these hospitals to focus more strongly on the services their patients trust them to provide.”With these changes, though, Nichols said she’s concerned for patients, especially considering the maternal mortality rates in Alabama.According to the National Library of Medicine, Alabama had a maternal mortality rate of 36.4 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.The Alabama Department of Public Health said our state’s rates were the third-highest in the United States that year.”It’s quite disturbing to look at the effect on women and their access to not just obstetrical care, but wellness type care,” Nichols said.In addition to leaving patients without a provider, some nurses are now looking for a new job.Nichols said St. Vincent’s is in the process of hiring some of these nurses, which will help the hospital handle the increase in patients.
Brookwood Baptist ended maternity programs at two local hospitals this week.
Shelby Baptist Medical Center and Princeton Baptist Medical Center stopped services Wednesday, leaving patients looking for new providers.
Madonna Nichols, administrative director of women and children’s services at St. Vincent’s in Birmingham, said they’re expecting an increase in patients because of this, and they’re ready.
“We do about 3,600 to 3,800 births here,” Nichols said. “And I think we’re anticipating in the neighborhood of 100 to 200. So, for us, that’s not a very large increase.”
Nichols said while there are many hospitals in Birmingham that can pick up the patient load, she’s concerned for patients living in rural areas.
“To see us increase more maternity deserts where maternity care is not available to patients is quite concerning to me,” Nichols said.
In a statement, Brookwood Baptist said the closures will “allow these hospitals to focus more strongly on the services their patients trust them to provide.”
With these changes, though, Nichols said she’s concerned for patients, especially considering the maternal mortality rates in Alabama.
According to the National Library of Medicine, Alabama had a maternal mortality rate of 36.4 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
The Alabama Department of Public Health said our state’s rates were the third-highest in the United States that year.
“It’s quite disturbing to look at the effect on women and their access to not just obstetrical care, but wellness type care,” Nichols said.
In addition to leaving patients without a provider, some nurses are now looking for a new job.
Nichols said St. Vincent’s is in the process of hiring some of these nurses, which will help the hospital handle the increase in patients.
