1 week Ago By Jamil Ragland
The Office of Health Strategy (OHS) and Trinity Health of New England to allow the network to permanently close its birthing center at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford. The OHS had , but the agreement stipulates measures to ensure that patients in the hospital’s service area will continue to have access to maternal care. Johnson Memorial’s birthing center had originally closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it never reopened.
Under the terms of the agreement, Johnson Memorial Hospital must continue to provide certain prenatal, postpartum, and wraparound pregnancy services, including help accessing WIC benefits and the Diaper Bank; provide emergency deliveries when necessary; as well as hiring a third party to determine whether a freestanding birthing center is necessary to make up for the loss of the hospital’s own services. If such a determination is made, the hospital will have to build one. “We are committed to prioritizing appropriate community access to high quality, affordable maternal and infant health services,” said OHS Commissioner Dr.
Deidre Gifford. “This agreement permits termination of labor and delivery services at the hospital but holds Johnson Memorial Hospital accountable to the community they serve and to the State of Connecticut for maintaining access to all levels of maternal and infant health care. If an independent analysis indicates that a free-standing birthing center in the area is viable, then Johnson Memorial will need to ensure that one is built.
” The specifics of the settlement also include the following stipulations for the hospital: Critics of the decision have been concerned that the loss of the birthing center will leave residents in one of the state’s most rural areas without nearby options when it comes to delivery services. “As a doctor and state senator, I’ve fought to preserve Johnson Memorial Hospital’s labor and delivery services in our region,” said state Sen. Jeff Gordon, R-Woodstock.
“These services are vital to expectant mothers and families who cannot otherwise access this care or easily be transported elsewhere in emergencies. These were key points of concern that I previously raised. I am disappointed by the negotiated settlement and that the public, town officials, and legislators were not included in the decision-making process.
” Gordon said that he will continue to do what he can to ensure that appropriate and timely services are provided, including what must be done to bring about a standalone birthing center in the region per the settlement agreement, or if the hospital must re-open labor and delivery if a birthing center cannot be created. Johnson Memorial initially stopped performing live births in 2020, stating that it was a response to “pandemic-related staffing challenges which resulted in staff turnover and difficulty in recruitment of new, qualified staff.” The state rejected its first attempt to close its birthing center in 2023, and Trinity Health of New England in turn rejected the state’s initial settlement offer in January.
Johnson Memorial is one of three rural hospitals that have attempted to close birthing centers or suspend operations in recent years. Sharon Hospital, located in northwestern Connecticut, attempted to close its birthing center but agreed to keep it as part of a deal with the attorney general’s office to approve the merger between its parent company, Nuvance Health, and New York-based Northwell Health. Windham Hospital, which is operated by Hartford HealthCare, received approval from the state to close its birthing center in December 2023.
.
