The hospital ended labor, delivery and infant care services to help offset the $2.9 million in budget cuts. Hospital officials are concerned, however, that ending these services may put expectant mothers and their babies at risk. As a safety-net hospital, Chabert provides care for many uninsured women, many of whom do not quality for Medicaid but cannot afford a private physician, according to the report. In addition, nearby safety-net hospitals no longer have labor and delivery departments.
Chabert officials said without the prenatal services that the hospital offered, pregnant women may forgo the services and end up in the emergency department in labor. The hospital has transferred some labor and delivery equipment to the ED in preparation.
More Articles on Hospital Department Closures:
West Penn Allegheny Closes Hospital Billing Departments
Pennsylvania’s Altoona Regional to Close Seventh Avenue Campus
Boston Medical Center to Close Rehabilitation Unit, Outpatient Clinic July 1
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