No more babies: HCMC drops delivery services
Joining a growing number of rural hospitals in Kansas and nationwide, Hillsboro Community Medical Center has decided not to provide scheduled newborn delivery services, effective Feb. 1.
"Anesthesia services are not available on a consistent basis for the safe delivery of this 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week service," said Michael Ryan, administrator of the hospital. "Patient safety is our primary focus and when you're only seeing seven or eight patients of this type a year, those skill sets are difficult to maintain."
Under increasing pressure from liability insurers and experiencing a trend of prospective parents seeking more specialized care, Kansas hospitals have seen a centralization of these services to more urban settings.
According to the 2004 Kansas Hospital Association Annual Statistical Report, less than 50 percent of Kansas hospitals provide obstetrical care.
"We still provide the full range of emergency services as most any full service hospital does," said Ryan. "If you are pregnant and experiencing any type of medical emergency, we are always available to serve those in need."
The hospital continues to see high volumes in other inpatient services and all of the outpatient areas, including physical therapy, laboratory and radiology services.
