Nine hospitals in Maine have closed or announced plans to close their birthing units in the past decade. Roughly half of Maine’s 36 hospitals do not offer birthing services. The closures span the state but have hit rural areas particularly hard.
On average, rural Mainers whose closest hospital doesn’t have a birthing unit are now driving 45 minutes one-way to the nearest birthing hospital, according to a recent analysis by the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, the longest drive time in New England. Rural residents carrying high-risk pregnancies may be forced to go even farther — to Bangor, Portland or in rare cases Boston — for a specialist’s care.
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As birthing units continue to close, potential solutions emerge
Cross-training staff, incorporating more independent providers, and expanding training in rural areas are solutions proposed by providers and researchers.
As birthing units close, where do midwives fit in?
As hospitals close their birthing units, independent midwives are reluctant to provide care in areas without a safety net.
Nine Maine hospitals have closed or announced plans to close their birthing units in the past decade. The closures have hit rural areas particularly hard.
On average, rural Mainers whose closest hospital doesn’t have a birthing unit are now driving 45 minutes one-way to the nearest birthing hospital, according to a recent analysis.