ST. MARKS TO DROP CHILD BIRTH CENTER

  

Officials in Fayette County say they feel ‘blind-sided’ by the recent announcement that St. Mark’s Hospital’s Board of Directors is planning to close its obstetric childbirth services at the end of next month.

In a statement issued by the board, they say they arrived at the decision due to “the loss of OB financial support that has been received for several years through the state’s program to serve Medicaid and uninsured individuals.”

Local leaders say they had no knowledge of the closure prior to the announcement late last week.

The move leaves Fayette County without a delivery room.

The nearest delivery room for Fayette County is now Columbus, over 25 miles away.

In a statement issued by St.Mark’s, hospital officials say, “with changes in the healthcare industry, St. Marks is forced to make difficult decisions for the greater good of the hospital.”