ASHLAND — UH Samaritan Medical Center will no longer deliver babies, the hospital announced Wednesday.
The change is expected to take effect Aug. 8 because of declining birth rates and staff shortages, sad Sylvia Radziszewski, UH Samaritan’s chief operating officer.
“Hospitals across the country are experiencing a trend of declining birth rates. This, along with staffing shortages, have resulted in having to make this difficult decision,” Radziszewski said.
“We appreciate the sense of loss the community may experience. We look forward to continuing to provide high-quality care and patient experiences through a variety of other comprehensive women’s services.”
The hospital along Center Street has delivered babies since 1912, according to Ansley Gogol, a University Hospitals spokeswoman.
UH Samaritan has seen a steady decline in deliveries year over year at since 2018, Gogol said. The hospital had 303 births in 2018 and projected 182 births in 2023.
The local numbers track a nationwide trend of falling birth rates.
Fertility rates gradually declined in the U.S. between 1990 and 2019. A U.S. Census Bureau analysis of Nation Center for Health Statistics data showed there were about 70.77 births per year for every 1,000 women aged 15 to 44. By 2019, that number fell to 58.21.
The hospital will continue to offer women and children services, including OB/GYN physician and midwife care, GYN surgical services and breastfeeding and lactation services.
However, expectant mothers in Ashland will now need to travel anywhere from 30 to 50 minutes away to deliver their babies — to hospitals in Mansfield, Wooster or Middleburg Heights, Gogol said.
“Our top priorities are ensuring the highest quality birth experience for our patients and families, and maintaining employment for our dedicated and talented labor and delivery staff,” said Pattie DePompei, the hospital’s president of UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s.
UH Samaritan caregivers, 21 in all, impacted by the change will be given the option to find other opportunities within the UH system or elsewhere, Gogol said.
That should make our city more attractive to people looking to relocate and start a family! But on the plus side you can get a coffee and donuts, pizza, sub, fast food with no problem.