Missoula, Mont.-based Providence St. Patrick Hospital has shared plans to close its family maternity center due to “the current and anticipated challenges facing the healthcare industry,” a Providence spokesperson said in a June 4 statement shared with Becker’s.
The hospital, which is part of Renton, Wash.-based Providence, also pointed to external forces such as a flat and declining birth rate and workforce shortages.
“Because the needs of our community can be met with one labor and delivery program, we are working closely with Western Montana Clinic and Community Medical Center [both in Missoula] to ensure uninterrupted care for expectant mothers,” the spokesperson said.
