Legacy Health closing birth center due to losses, staff shortage

Portland-based Legacy Health will close the Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center’s family birth center in Gresham, Ore., as staff shortages and financial losses continue to challenge the health system, NBC affiliate KGW8 reported Jan. 30.

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As of March 17, pregnant patients arriving at the hospital’s emergency department will be transferred to other local hospitals, such as Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland, according to the report. The birth center’s 50-plus employees will be transferred to other positions within the health system.

Legacy Health is waiting for the State of Oregon to approve the closure and will seek guidance on a plan for a temporary or permanent closure, according to KGW8.

In a statement, the health system said it had been reviewing operations to identify areas for improvement and the birth center stood out “because it maintains a low volume of births with an unusually high-cost care model.”

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