Holy Cross Health set to permanently shut down maternity ward — citing low birth rates
Holy Cross Health is closing its maternity unit permanently later this year, according to officials — an announcement that comes on the heels of the hospital shutting down the unit temporarily because of COVID-related staffing shortages.
The Fort Lauderdale-based hospital notes the surge in COVID-19 cases was not the reason for the permanent closure.
The maternity unit is slated to close March 14 in support of a “re-imagined vision for women’s health,” Holy Cross said Wednesday.
Physicians plan to continue treating patients in their offices and will have the opportunity to oversee deliveries. Holy Cross will work with physicians to use other local hospitals to see their patients’ deliveries to term.
The hospital cited a decline in birth rate as a result of changing demographics in surrounding communities as part of the reason for the closure. Holy Cross added that patients are choosing other hospitals for obstetric services, which deal with pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.
Deliveries at Holy Cross Health were less than 800 per year, down from 1,359 in 2013 — the hospital’s high point, it said. The decline still came even though the hospital recently made investments to bolster the program. Births, in the primary service area, are projected to decrease an additional 7.5%, about 803 cases, over the next seven years.
“In order to best serve our community over the long-term by utilizing resources where they are needed most, we have made the difficult decision to permanently close our inpatient maternity unit,” the hospital said in a statement.
The hospital temporarily closed its maternity ward Jan. 3 due to critical staffing levels in its labor and delivery department following the latest COVID surge.
Holy Cross Health said it had already evaluated the unit’s long-term feasibility prior to the temporary closure.
“As always, the care and safety of our patients are our top priorities. Holy Cross Health will continue to provide gynecologic services and comprehensive Women’s Health services through our Dorothy Mangurian Comprehensive Women’s Center and Holy Cross Medical Group physician practices,” the hospital added.
This story was originally published January 12, 2022 at 6:52 PM.
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