SE PA Region loses yet another maternity ward

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

More OB nurses forced into finding slim pickins maternity care positions in SE PA. Karen

Phila. Business Journal

Nov 21, 2012

John George

Region loses yet another maternity ward

Lower Bucks Hospital said it plans to close its maternity ward, which is losing nearly $1 million per year, as early as Dec. 31.

The region has lost nearly two-dozen maternity wards over the past 15 years. Typically, hospitals have shut them down because of higher malpractice insurance costs and what they say are inadequate reimbursements from health insurers. Hospitals converting to outpatient or specialty care, or closing outright, also contributed to the decline.

Lower Bucks Hospital, which emerged from bankruptcy court protection at the start of the year and was acquired by Prime Healthcare Services, handled about 1,000 deliveries a year.