The Childbirth Crisis: Closing maternity units

There is an alarming trend of diminishing birthing options for pregnant women in Southeastern Pennsylvania as maternity units (or obstetrics units) close.  These closures have contributed to local spikes in occupancy rates and raised concerns around the capacity of remaining units to serve women safely. Women face an additional barrier because their hospital may not accept their insurance plan. 

Please see the lists below showing where women can still give birth and which sites have closed.  In the left column, hospital names in RED have closed the entire hospital, including their maternity department.  Hospital names in DARK BLUE have closed their maternity units, but continue to provide other inpatient services.

MATERNITY UNIT CLOSED

MATERNITY UNIT AND HOSPITAL CLOSED

(Southeastern PA)

Bucks

Warminster (2000)

Chester

Brandywine Hospital (2008)

Delaware

Mercy Fitzgerald Maternity Unit (2003) 

Montgomery

Elkins Park (2001)

Central Montgomery Medical Center (2009)

Mercy Suburban Hospital (June 30th, 2010)

Philadelphia

Temple East-Northeastern Hospital (2009)

Chestnut Hill Hospital Maternity Unit (2008)

Jeanes Hospital (2007)

Frankford Hospital (2006)

Parkview (2003)

Methodist (2002)

Mercy Philadelphia Hospital (2002)

Episcopal (2001) 

Roxborough Memorial Hospital (1999) 

City Avenue (1999) 

Germantown (1998)

Nazareth Hospital (1998) 

Medical College of      

       Pennsylvania (1997) 

MATERNITY UNIT AND HOSPITAL STILL OPEN

(Southeastern PA)

Bucks

Doylestown Hospital

Grand View Hospital

Lower Bucks Hospital

St. Mary Medical Center

Chester

Chester County Hospital

Jennersville Regional Hospital

Paoli Hospital 

Phoenixville Hospital

Delaware

Crozer-Chester Medical Center

Delaware County Memorial Hospital

Riddle Memorial Hospital

Montgomery

Abington Memorial Hospital

Bryn Mawr Hospital

Holy Redeemer Health System           

Lankenau Hospital            

Montgomery Hospital Medical Center

Pottstown Memorial Medical Center

Philadelphia

Albert Einstein Medical Center

Hahnemann University Hospital

Hospital of the University of

        Pennsylvania    

Pennsylvania Hospital     

Temple University Hospital      

Thomas Jefferson University           

        Hospital

BIRTH CENTERS OPEN

Bryn Mawr Birth         

     Center    

Valley Birthplace &  

     Woman Care

Hospital Births and Maternity Unit Capacity in Southeast Pennsylvania

The following charts show the number of births by hospital and the capacity in regional maternity units during 2009-2010

as compared to 1996-1997 for Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Chester and counties: 

Montgomery County

Delaware County

Chester County

Data Source: PA Department of Health, Bureau of Health Statistics

• 1996-1997 Licensed Beds and Occupancy Rates from Annual Hospital Questionnaire, Report 2A.  Online PDF
• 1996-1997 Births: Annual Hospital Questionnaire, Report 1A.  Online PDF
• 2009-2010 Licensed Beds and Occupancy Rates, Annual Hospital Questionnaire, Report 2A.  Online PDF
• 2009-2010 Births: Annual Hospital Questionnaire, Report 1A. Online PDF

Capacity is an area of concern for practitioners and families. The literature, discussed briefly below, recommends a capacity around 75% and, in 2007-2008, half of the remaining maternity units in Philadelphia were operating above this capacity; two at about 99% (Table 13). 

Furthermore, anecdotal evidence suggests that practitioners and hospital staff in maternity units are overwhelmed and patients are frustrated about overcrowded facilities and traveling further distances to receive care. 

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health commissioned a Drexel University report, "Obstetric Care for Philadelphia Residents: 1997-2004."  The following is an excerpt:

 

Individual hospitals make their own determinations as to what occupancy level they are comfortable with, taking into account fiscal pressures, risk, and provider workload. Several states and organizations have published “ideal” obstetric occupancy rates, sometimes varying for urban and rural areas or small vs. large hospitals.

Table 13 citations:

New York State Department of Health: Acute Care Facilities

Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board (03/21/2005)

Department of Defense Planning Criteria for Health Facilities

"Strategies for Cutting Hospital Beds: The impact on patient services"

Excerpt courtesy of report author:

Jennifer Kolker, MPH
Assistant Professor
Drexel University School of Public Health Department of Health Management and Policy