UPMC Horizon moving its baby business

GREENVILLE, Pa. —  No more babies will be delivered at UPMC Horizon after April.

UPMC Horizon officials announced this week that they are consolidating all obstetrical services to the Shenango Valley campus in Farrell come May 1.

Among the factors determining the change were population projections for the areas served by the hospital showing that greater care will be needed for an aging population while births will decline, according to a news release from UPMC Horizon.

Births at the UPMC Greenville campus have decreased from a high of 863 in 1983 to 399 last year, according to the health system. Over the last 10 years, births at its Shenango Valley facility increased by 179 percent reaching 405 in 2006. UPMC Horizon and its other UPMC affiliates currently provide 53.7 percent of all maternity and women’s health care in Mercer County.

Hospital officials note that an $800,000 expansion of the obstetrical department in the 11-bed Farrell facility was completed last year.

A new relationship with Magee-Womensok Hospital in Pittsburgh is also being touted as a plus for the expanded obstetrical services in the Shenango Valley. The nursing staff will get specialized training at Magee to help keep abreast of the latest procedures.