Lynchburg, Va.-based Centra Health plans to close the labor and delivery unit and OB-GYN surgical services at its Centra Southside Community Hospital, along with outpatient care at its CMG Southside Women’s Center, both in Farmville, Va., on Dec. 19.
The decision comes amid a decline in patient volume and deliveries, with fewer than 275 in the last few years, making it difficult to recruit and retain providers and cover on-call gaps, according to a Centra Health news release.
“At the same time Centra, like other rural healthcare providers, must adapt to significant financial and operational challenges, including recently enacted reductions in federal healthcare funding,” the release said.
Centra plans to continue its partnership with Central Virginia Health Services, a federally qualified health center in Farmville, and coordinate with patients who want to transfer to the system’s Lynchburg facilities or another care site.
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