Fears rise as 3 maternity units prepare to close in Alabama
Fears rise as 3 maternity units prepare to close in Alabama
The state has one of the country’s highest maternal mortality rates. Now, three hospitals plan to stop delivering babies, putting some pregnant women at even higher risk.
The state has one of the country’s highest maternal mortality rates. Now, three hospitals plan to stop delivering babies, putting some pregnant women at even higher risk.
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One issue with mother baby units is they are loss leaders. This is why not every hospital has them. They only drain money from a hospital. If the hospital has other money making specialists bringing in the cash, then the mother baby unit can stay.
The other piece is a hospital can only have units for the medical specialists they can attract. If, say, they can’t find cardiologists then there will be no cath lab, and patients needing that care will have to be transferred elsewhere. If, say, Alabama is having a hard time attracting OBGYNs due to archaic laws regarding women’s medical care, then the unit would have to close even if the hospital has no financial reason to do so.