(WSIL) -- After careful consideration, SSM Health Illinois will be consolidating the labor and delivery service from SSM Health St. Mary's in Centralia to SSM Health Good Samaritan in Mt. Vernon by the end of 2021.
“The decision to consolidate our inpatient labor and delivery department was not reached lightly�, said Damon Harbison, President, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital. Harbison said they have closely monitored the obstetrics service line for several years and the department has been experiencing underutilization for some time now that matched the national and regional trend of declining birth rates.
Harbison stated that “this decision is in no way a reflection upon the quality of care our OB/GYN physicians, pediatricians, nurses, or staff have provided to mothers and babies. We consider them among the ‘best of the bestâ€� and know that this change will be difficult for our amazing staff.â€Â Â�
While 18 employees at St. Mary’s Hospital will be affected, no jobs will be lost. St. Mary’s Hospital administration met with those employees and have offered them the opportunity to transfer to other positions within the SSM Health system.
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - Centralia has seen a consistent decline in the number of births each year. The hospital anticipates less than 250 total births in 2021. Combining the two programs will increase volumes allowing staff to maintain clinical competencies and increase program efficiencies.
To ensure a smooth transition and continuity of care, SSM Health Illinois is partnering with Heartland Women’s Healthcare to assist with transitioning their patient’s labor and delivery care to SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital � Mt. Vernon or a hospital of their choice.
In a statement Heartland Women's Healthcare said...
"Heartland Women’s Healthcare will continue to see patients 5 days a week at our long-standing Centralia office located at 430 North Pleasant Avenue, Centralia, IL 62801. We will continue to provide the exceptional services our patients have become accustomed to such as being able to book an appointment from our website, prenatal USBytes Baby Bracelets, ultrasounds at every visit, 4D ultrasounds, and a Patient Support Center open 7 days a week. We are awaiting more details from the hospital including official closure date. When more information is received, we will communicate immediately with our patients."
This comes 2 years after Heartland Regional Medical Center shut down their labor and delivery ward and SSM Good Samaritan took in many of their patients.
RELATED:
