GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — (GRAND HAVEN TRIBUNE) - The lack of obstetric and gynecological practitioners in the area has caused the North Ottawa Community Health System to close down its Family Birthing Unit.
The unit’s last day is Wednesday, according to NOCHS Chief Communications Officer Jennifer VanSkiver.
The NOCHS Board of Directors “made the difficult decision to close the Family Birthing Unit” on Oct. 26, VanSkiver said. The unit consisted of 10 labor, delivery, recovery and post-partum rooms.
“All affected personnel have been offered and have accepted positions elsewhere within the health system,” VanSkiver said.
The hospital system will continue to provide all other Women’s Health Services including 3-D mammography, stereotactic biopsies, ultrasounds and robotic-assisted gynecological surgery.
More than eight OB/GYN practitioners served NOCHS for the past 10 years, the majority of whom were employed by the hospital-owned practice called North Ottawa Women’s Health.
In 2018, the Women’s Health group was transitioned to Mercy Health Physician Partners as part of a strategic affiliation agreement. The transition was intended to support primary care, including women’s health services throughout the greater Northwest Ottawa community, VanSkiver said.
“During the past year, however, multiple physicians left that practice or were transferred to Muskegon and were not replaced by MHPP,” VanSkiver said. “With too few remaining physicians, it has become impossible for NOCHS to obtain appropriate patient call coverage.”
The Grand Haven hospital has worked closely with the remaining physicians to ensure the transition of care for patients expecting to deliver in the near future, she said.
VanSkiver said the hospital has been involved in delivering thousands upon thousands of babies across many generations in its more than 100 years of existence.
“The largest proliferation of birthing services happened in 1953 when Dr. Mary Kitchell spearheaded the building of a brand new maternity ward in response to the baby boom post World War II,” VanSkiver said.
“This was an extremely difficult decision,” said Shelleye Yaklin, NOCHS President and CEO. “It’s one that our Board and staff worked long and hard to avoid.
“The Family Birthing Unit at North Ottawa Community Health System has been a joyous and beautiful part of our story, almost since our beginning more than 100 years ago,” Yaklin said. “We are proud of the significant impact our care has had on generations of new and growing families in that time.
“As hard as it is on a day like this, we must double down on the critical needs of inpatient care, diagnostics, emergency and surgical services that are demanding more of us all right now. And in the coming months we look forward to announcing plans to welcome new, expanded inpatient services to NOCHS. Our hallmark has always been to adjust when facing difficult challenges. We remain truly grateful and honored to be of service this community.”
This story originally appeared on the Grand Haven Tribune's website.
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