Santa Rosa (Calif.) Memorial Hospital’s plan to close its inpatient children’s unit is drawing scrutiny from local pediatricians and county health officials, The Press Democrat reported Nov. 10.
The hospital, part of Renton, Wash.-based Providence, shared plans in October to repurpose the eight-bed unit for adult inpatient care in the first quarter of 2026, citing low patient volumes and rising financial challenges.
In a Nov. 11 statement to Becker’s, Providence said the unit currently sees fewer than two pediatric inpatients a day on average. Historically, most pediatric patients who visit the hospital’s ED are transferred to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, which has dual campuses in San Francisco and Oakland.
“The logistical and financial challenges of maintaining a near-empty pediatric unit, while managing an increase in demand for complex adult care, have become more acute each year,” Scott Ciesielski, chief administrative officer for Providence Sonoma County, told The Press Democrat. “Repurposing the inpatient pediatric unit to expand adult inpatient capacity where demand is significantly higher enables us to align our limited resources with the evolving needs of the community.”
Providence said it will continue to treat children at its emergency department, which remains open 24/7, and offer outpatient pediatric services through its Providence Medical Group pediatric team.
Pediatricians with the medical group estimate the change will result in about 300 children needing to be transferred to hospitals outside the county annually.
Members of the Sonoma County Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Advisory Board — which includes local physicians — have pushed back on the plan, arguing it will disproportionately affect low-income families and worsen access to pediatric inpatient care across the region.
“This decision was informed by a thorough discernment and consideration of options and was not made lightly,” Providence said in its statement. “As a next step, a committee of physicians and clinical leaders will work together to address the operational details and determine the timeline for converting pediatric beds to adult care.”
Providence said no layoffs are expected and that all affected pediatric staff will be offered other roles within the organization.
The planned closure reflects a broader national trend of hospitals discontinuing inpatient pediatric services amid sustained declines in admissions and mounting financial strain. Becker’s has reported on at least five other hospitals that have ended such services this year.
