Search is Powered by Google
Pregnancy / Obstetrics News

Philadelphia-Area Hospital Plans Maternity Unit Closure, Joins 15 Other Recent Closures In Region

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery;  Public Health
Article Date: 08 Sep 2008 - 8:00 PDT

email icon email to a friend   printer icon printer friendly   write icon view / write opinions   rate icon rate article
Current Article Ratings:

Patient / Public:3 stars

2.67 (3 votes)

Health Professional:not yet rated

Article Opinions: 0 posts

The maternity unit at Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill Hospital will close on Nov. 7, joining 15 other hospitals in the region in closing their maternity units since 1997, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Only seven hospitals in Philadelphia will offer obstetrical care after Chestnut Hill closes its maternity unit, according to the Inquirer. Most experts have said the maternity units have closed because of high malpractice insurance rates and low insurance reimbursements.

Chestnut Hill currently delivers about 1,000 infants annually, or about 2% of the 53,000 infants born in the region each year. Brooks Turkel, CEO of Chestnut Hill, said that the neonatal intensive care and maternity units were losing $2.5 million annually, adding that the hospital plans to expand gynecological treatments and care for aging people, which are in higher demand from nearby neighborhoods and are more profitable.

Chestnut Hill's decision "demonstrates the region's continuing crisis in obstetrical care," the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council said in a joint news release. The organizations said they are tracking maternity volumes and working together to ensure access to obstetrical care in the region (Burling, Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/4).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2008 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.




Customized Homepage Weekly Newsletters Daily News Alerts
Home About Us News Licensing Free Website Feeds Free Tools & Content Links Tell a Friend Accessibility Help / FAQ Article Submission Contact Us
Psychiatry Urology
Bipolar Diabetes Schizophrenia

add medical news today to your facebook

medical news gadget

Add to Google


developers
website gadget code
website news code
medical news rss feed links


MedReader RSS Reader

customize your homepage


These are the most read articles from this news category for the last 6 months:
Top Article Star
Nausea During Pregnancy (Morning Sickness)
20 Jun 2008
It is common for a pregnant woman to live through nausea and vomiting during her first few months of pregnancy. It is difficult to predict whether it is going to happen. Some women have no nausea during their first...


Pregnant Exercise image Pregnant Exercise

Pregnant women can benefit from exercise in several ways. Learn how and guidelines to follow during exercise regimens...

Talking with Your Doctor image Talking with Your Doctor

Talking with your doctor can sometimes be difficult. Good health care, however, depends on an open dialogue between patients and doctors...

View more videos...